SB 1489: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that facilitating postsecondary education and training for all interested high school graduates is a matter of statewide concern.  Postsecondary options assist graduates by preparing them for jobs and career pathways that typically pay higher wages, which enables them to achieve their educational and career goals and afford the State's high cost of living.  Increased enrollment and completion of postsecondary education and training will increase the State's human capital.

     The university of Hawaii amended its administrative rules to streamline the enrollment process for all applicants for admission into the university of Hawaii system; however, the current statutory requirements regarding residency for tuition purposes pose challenges for some local graduating high school seniors or recent graduates.  Specifically, some students experiencing homelessness have difficulty providing evidence of bona fide residency as required by statute, and students who have complex family situations may be incorrectly considered nonresidents.  The legislature further finds that recognizing local high school graduates as residents to qualify for resident tuition fees would facilitate the enrollment of these students at one of the university of Hawaii's campuses.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to simplify the residency determination for the State's high school graduates to enroll in postsecondary education and training at the university of Hawaii by considering graduates of the State's high schools to be residents for tuition purposes.

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-402, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-402[]]  Residence for tuition purposes; basic rule.  The board of regents shall adopt the necessary rules defining residence for tuition purposes herein; provided that the basic rule shall be that a student shall qualify for the resident tuition fee only if the following criteria are met:

     (1)  The adult student, or in the case of a minor student, the student's parents or guardians, has or have been a bona fide resident of this State for at least twelve consecutive months next preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus; and

     (2)  The adult or minor student [has]:

          (A)  Has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for at least twelve months next preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus by the student's parents or guardians who are nonresidents of the State; provided that this provision shall not apply in cases where the parent claiming the student as a dependent is entitled to do so under a child support order or agreement issued or entered into in conjunction with a divorce proceeding or legal separation agreement and the other parent and the student meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (1)[.]; or

          (B)  Graduated from a high school in the State within four years preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus and will enroll in an undergraduate degree program."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 31, 2050.

Report Title:

UH; Residence for Tuition Purposes

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions.  Effective 7/31/2050.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that facilitating postsecondary education and training for all interested high school graduates is a matter of statewide concern.  Postsecondary options assist graduates by preparing them for jobs and career pathways that typically pay higher wages, which enables them to achieve their educational and career goals and afford the State's high cost of living.  Increased enrollment and completion of postsecondary education and training will increase the State's human capital.

     The university of Hawaii amended its administrative rules to streamline the enrollment process for all applicants for admission into the university of Hawaii system; however, the current statutory requirements regarding residency for tuition purposes pose challenges for some local graduating high school seniors or recent graduates.  Specifically, some students experiencing homelessness have difficulty providing evidence of bona fide residency as required by statute, and students who have complex family situations may be incorrectly considered nonresidents.  The legislature further finds that recognizing local high school graduates as residents to qualify for resident tuition fees would facilitate the enrollment of these students at one of the university of Hawaii's campuses.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to simplify the residency determination for the State's high school graduates to enroll in postsecondary education and training at the university of Hawaii by considering graduates of the Stateꞌs high schools to be residents for tuition purposes.

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-402, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-402[]]  Residence for tuition purposes; basic rule.  The board of regents shall adopt the necessary rules defining residence for tuition purposes herein; provided that the basic rule shall be that a student shall qualify for the resident tuition fee only if the following criteria are met:

     (1)  The adult student, or in the case of a minor student, the student's parents or guardians, has or have been a bona fide resident of this State for at least twelve consecutive months next preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus; and

     (2)  The adult or minor student has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for at least twelve months next preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus by the student's parents or guardians who are nonresidents of the State; provided that this provision shall not apply in cases where the parent claiming the student as a dependent is entitled to do so under a child support order or agreement issued or entered into in conjunction with a divorce proceeding or legal separation agreement and the other parent and the student meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (1)[.]; or

     (3)  The adult or minor student:

          (A)  Graduated from a high school in the State within four years preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus; and

          (B)  Will enroll in an undergraduate degree program."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

UH; Residence for Tuition Purposes

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 521

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1489

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1489 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to simplify the residency determination for the State's high school graduates to enroll in post-secondary education and training at the University of Hawaii by considering graduates of the State's high schools to be residents for tuition purposes under certain conditions.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawaiʻi System, and University of Hawaiʻi Student Caucus.

Your Committee finds that increased enrollment in post‑secondary education will benefit the State, as it will provide individuals with a wider range of career options and personal development, ultimately contributing to greater economic stability.  However, existing law regarding residency for tuition purposes poses challenges for some local graduating high school seniors or recent graduates, specifically students experiencing homelessness or with complex family situations.  This measure will improve post-secondary enrollment in the State by simplifying the residency determination for the State's high school graduates, allowing them to benefit from resident tuition fees.

     Your Committee notes that if this measure is enacted, it is practicable for the University of Hawaii to amend its administrative rules in accordance with its provisions.  Your Committee requests that the University of Hawaii amend its administrative rules governing residency determination for prospective students even if this measure is not enacted, for the purpose of increasing enrollment in post-secondary education in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1489, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1489, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,