Bill Text: HI HB1834 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Relating To Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-16 - The committee on EDU deferred the measure. [HB1834 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1834-Amended.html

---

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1834
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that families in Hawaii have been negatively affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has been incredibly disruptive to student learning.  Students had to transition to online learning, which led to some families having to stay at home or cut their work hours to watch their child.  This was further exacerbated due to Hawaii being one of the last states to return students back for in-person learning.  With a significant number of students still at home due to quarantine and isolation protocols, families continue to serve as caretakers and educators.

     The legislature further finds that many residents living with at least one child under the age of eighteen have seen their combined household income decline and require financial assistance to support their child's educational career.  The legislature believes that the State must provide such assistance in order to ensure Hawaii's students continue to learn in the best environment possible.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of education to establish and administer the strong students grant pilot program.

     SECTION 2.  For the purposes of this Act:

     "Assessment" means an examination or other objective evaluation of a student's academic performance, academic engagement, or college or career readiness.

     "Contractor" means an individual or entity with whom the department enters into a contract for the purpose of performing a program function.

     "Department" means the department of education.

     "Eligible education expenses" means:

     (1)  Computer hardware, internet access, or other technological devices or services that are primarily used to meet a participant's educational needs;

     (2)  Textbooks, curriculum, or other instructional materials, including educational software and applications;

     (3)  Fees for national standardized assessments, advanced placement examinations, examinations related to college or university admissions, or industry-recognized certification examinations;

     (4)  Therapies including but not limited to occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, and audiology therapies, or other services or therapies specifically approved by the department; and

     (5)  Supplemental education services.

     "Eligible student" means a student attending a public school in grades kindergarten through twelve.

     "Grant" means an award of $1,000 to be used for eligible education expenses.

     "Grant distribution platform" means a device through which grant funds are transferred from the department to the parents of participants.

     "Parent" means a parent or legal guardian of an eligible student or a participant.

     "Participant" means an eligible student for whom a grant is awarded under the program.

     "Program" means the strong students grant pilot program.

     "Public school" means a department school governed by chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or a public charter school governed by chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 3.  (a)  No later than           , the department shall establish and administer the strong students grant pilot program to provide grants for eligible education expenses to eligible students who qualify for a grant under the program.

     (b)  To administer the program, the department shall:

     (1)  Establish a grant application process for parents of eligible students who apply for the program;

     (2)  Select a third party to build a grant distribution platform;

     (3)  Administer or select a third party to administer the grant distribution platform; and

     (4)  Subject to appropriation, award grants to qualified students under this Act.

     (c)  The department may:

     (1)  Retain other contractors as necessary to administer the program and delegate program functions to the contractors; and

     (2)  Take other actions as necessary to establish, administer, and enforce the provisions of this Act.

     (d)  The awarding of grants shall be made to eligible students in the following order of preference and shall be contingent on department of taxation verification of the tax information submitted by the parent:

     (1)  Eligible students whose families have an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less;

     (2)  Starting on September 15 of each calendar year, eligible students whose families have an annual gross income of $75,000 or less; and

     (3)  Starting on November 1 of each calendar year, to all other eligible students on a first come, first served basis until all available program funds are awarded;

provided that applications for program grants shall not be accepted after December 1 of each calendar year.

     (e)  Notification of grant awards for eligible students under subsection (d)(1) shall be made within thirty days from the department's receipt of the application from the parent of the eligible student.  Grant funds under subsection (d)(1) shall be made available for participants' use as soon as practicable but no more thirty days after notification of the grant award.

     (f)  Prior to the award of a grant, the parent of a participant shall agree to verify compliance with the program requirements.

     (g)  If a parent of a participant is found to misuse grant funds, then neither the parent nor another parent of the participant living in the same household may apply for any future program grants; provided that a parent may appeal the finding of misuse to the department.

     (h)  Grant funds under the program shall be expended in the fiscal year in which the funds are awarded and shall only be used for eligible education expenses.  Any unused funds at the end of a fiscal year shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 4.  (a)  The department shall submit a report to the legislature on its efforts to establish the strong students grant pilot program established by this Act, including any findings and recommendations, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.

     (b)  The department shall submit a report to the legislature on its efforts to implement the strong students grant pilot program established by this Act, including any findings and recommendations, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for establishing and administering the strong students grant pilot program established by this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2051.

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Education; Strong Students Grant Pilot Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the DOE to establish and administer the strong students grant pilot program to provide grants for eligible education expenses to eligible students.  Requires the DOE to submit progress reports to the legislature prior to the 2023 and 2024 regular sessions.  Appropriates funds for the pilot program.  Effective 7/1/2051.  (HD2)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.