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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1188 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 Hawaii has been experiencing teacher shortages over the last several years, and that it is particularly difficult to fill vacancies for teachers in select fields in education in the State. The legislature further finds that, to help fill these critical positions in the Hawaii public school system, a teacher stipend should be created to encourage qualified students to pursue teaching degrees.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a teacher stipend program to encourage students to pursue teaching degrees in needed areas. The program shall be administered by the department of education and funded by the legislature.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A-A Hawaii teacher stipend program. (a) There is established the Hawaii teacher stipend program to be administered by the department to address the shortfall of licensed teachers in the department's schools, especially in identified shortage areas.
(b) A student is eligible for scholarship consideration if the student:
(1) Is enrolled at a University of Hawaii campus and qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition; and
(2) Is enrolled in a state approved teacher education program at the University of Hawaii.
(c) Stipend recipients shall teach in the Hawaii public school system for three to five years immediately following completion of a state approved teacher education program. If the recipient fails to complete the state approved teacher education program, or to satisfy the teaching requirement within the designated number of years, stipend funds shall be repaid as follows:
(1) For each year less than the designated number of years that a stipend recipient does not teach in the Hawaii public school system, the recipient shall repay a proportionate percentage of the total stipend funds received; and
(2) The department shall set the terms and conditions for stipend repayment, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment.
(d) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement and administer the stipend program.
(e) Moneys repaid by scholarship recipients pursuant to subsection (c) shall be deposited in the Hawaii teacher stipend program special fund established under section 302A-B.
§302A-B Hawaii teacher stipend program special fund. (a) There is established the Hawaii teacher stipend program special fund, into which shall be deposited legislative appropriations and all moneys received as repayment from students due to a breach in contractual agreements under the Hawaii teacher stipend program established under section 302A-A.
(b) The special fund shall be administered and used by the department to provide ongoing funding of stipends to students in the Hawaii teacher stipend program, or any successor programs, and related costs."
SECTION 3. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the establishment and implementation of the Hawaii teacher stipend program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.
Report Title:
University of Hawaii; Stipend; Education Majors; Teacher Shortages; Department of Education; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes a Hawaii teacher stipend program to be administered by the Department of Education to address the shortage of teachers in the Hawaii public school system. Appropriates funds for the program for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 fiscal years. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.