HI SB1162

Establishes the Hawaii Promise Program administered by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to provide scholarships covering unmet direct costs (tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation) for qualified students at all UH campuses including community colleges.

Community college students must complete FAFSA, be Hawaii residents, enroll in degree/certificate programs with six or more credits per semester, maintain 2.0 GPA, and earn minimum 12 credits annually; four-year campus students must meet similar requirements with 15+ credits per semester, 2.5 GPA, and commit to five-year post-graduation state residency.

Scholarship awards determined on first-come, first-served basis equal to student's unmet direct cost need minus Pell grants and other scholarships, with maximum eight-semester eligibility per student.

Students who fail scholarship requirements placed on probation with consideration for extenuating circumstances; failure to meet probation standards results in scholarship revocation and requirement to reimburse up to two semesters of funds received.

Appropriates funds from general revenues to establish the Hawaii Promise Program Special Fund for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, with separate allocations for four-year campuses and community college campuses; effective July 1, 2050.