Hawaii House Bill HCR203

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24
• Report Pass: 3/28/24
• Refer: 3/28/24

Caption

Establishing A Working Group To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The University Of Hawaii Community Colleges Summer Tuition Pilot Program.

Impact

Should the recommendations of the working group result in proposed legislation, the impact on state laws could involve the establishment of more robust financial aid mechanisms and supportive programs to facilitate access to community colleges. The pilot program itself may serve as a model for wider tuition assistance strategies, thereby influencing how educational institutions manage tuition rates in the future. Additionally, the findings could engage broader discussions on educational equity and the need for targeted financial support for vulnerable student populations.

Summary

HCR203 is a House Concurrent Resolution proposed during the Thirty-second Legislature of Hawaii in 2024. The resolution establishes a working group tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of the University of Hawaii Community Colleges summer tuition pilot program. This program intends to address financial barriers that deter many community college students from accessing education, recognizing the diverse educational opportunities provided by community colleges, including trade and technical certifications. The resolution highlights the financial insecurity faced by numerous community college students who struggle to afford basic tuition rates. To mitigate this issue, it references House Bill No. 1779 H.D. 2, which seeks to align summer tuition rates with those of the spring and fall semesters. This initiative aims to lower the financial burden for both continuing students and incoming high school students looking to gain college credit during the summer. A notable aspect of HCR203 is its provision for a working group co-chaired by members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This collaborative effort is envisioned as a way to closely evaluate the pilot program's effectiveness, thus allowing for informed recommendations to be made based on the findings. The working group is instructed to compile a report, including any suggested legislative changes, to be submitted twenty days before the commencement of the Regular Session of 2025. The establishment of such a working group already indicates legislative support for reinforcing access to education and reducing costs for community college students. The outcomes of this evaluation could lead to significant policy adjustments affecting state educational funding and financial assistance structures for higher education, particularly within community colleges.