HB 1540 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Travel Industry Management Promise Program administered by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to provide scholarships for qualified community college graduates pursuing a bachelor of science degree in travel industry management at UH Manoa.

• Eligible students must be Hawaii residents who have earned an associate degree and a certificate from a UH community college in hospitality and tourism, culinary arts, or a similar board-approved program.

• Scholarships cover unmet direct costs (tuition, fees, books, supplies, and transportation) for a maximum of eight semesters, awarded on a greatest need basis to the extent funding allows.

• Creates the Hawaii Travel Industry Management Promise Program subaccount within the UH general fund and requires the university to submit annual reports to the legislature on scholarship awards.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to establish and operate the program; effective July 1, 2019.