Bill > SB422

This bill authorizes the Hawaii Department of Education to establish a program awarding high school diplomas to veterans and individuals whose education was disrupted during specific wartime periods (World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War). Specifically, the program is designed for qualified persons who were either compulsorily or voluntarily inducted into the U.S. armed services or had their high school education interrupted due to wartime practices. To be eligible, an individual must have been a resident of Hawaii (or the Territory of Hawaii) and enrolled in a high school during specific date ranges: December 1, 1941 to August 30, 1945 (World War II), June 1, 1950 to July 31, 1953 (Korean War), or August 1, 1964 to January 31, 1973 (Vietnam War). Applicants must not have completed their high school curriculum or received a diploma, and they will need to submit documentation to the department establishing their eligibility. This bill extends and expands upon a previous law (Act 124 from 2015) that had a more limited scope and was set to expire on June 30, 2020, providing an opportunity for veterans and those affected by wartime disruptions to receive formal recognition of their educational journey.

Budget and Finance, Education, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=422&year=2026