Bill > HB2338

This bill amends the Hawaii Community College Promise Program, often referred to as "Hawaii Promise," which provides scholarships to cover the unmet direct costs of attendance for eligible students at University of Hawaii community colleges. Previously, the program calculated its awards by including all grants, scholarships, and other funding sources a student received, which could reduce the overall benefit of the Hawaii Promise award. This bill changes that by excluding these other funding sources from the calculation, allowing students to use them for indirect costs like housing and food, thereby reducing financial barriers and better supporting their success. The bill also updates the definition of "direct cost" to align more closely with federal financial aid regulations, such as those for Pell Grants, and ensures that the program will be administered to maximize state assistance while preserving students' eligibility for federal aid, with a stated effective date of July 1, 3000.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2338&year=2026