HI SB2255

Establishes the Hawaii Justice League Program under the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law to provide student loan repayment assistance for lawyers who commit to public interest work in Hawaii for up to five years.

Defines eligible public interest work as employment with tax-exempt charitable organizations (501(c)(3)-(c)(6)), local/state/federal government, Native Hawaiian public interest organizations, and low-income community-based private practice.

Creates the Hawaii Justice League Special Fund to be administered by the law school, funded by legislative appropriations, grants, donations, loan repayments from participants who fail to meet service commitments, and deposits from the UH tuition and fees special fund.

Requires the University of Hawaii law school to adopt rules for program administration, establish selection criteria for participants, identify areas of greatest need, and prioritize loan repayments accordingly; gives preference to graduates of the Richardson School of Law.

Mandates the program be implemented by June 30, 2015, with the law school dean reporting to the legislature every two years beginning in 2016; provides appropriations from general revenues to the special fund for fiscal year 2014-2015.