HB 2656 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Justice League Program administered by the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law to provide partial student loan repayment assistance for lawyers practicing in underserved rural areas of Hawaii.

• Provides loan repayment up to 20 percent of legal training costs, with a maximum of $35,000 per year for up to five years, with annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.

• Requires participating lawyers to commit to at least five consecutive years of public interest legal work in rural areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, with preference given to graduates of the University of Hawaii law school.

• Establishes the Hawaii Justice League revolving fund to be administered by the law school, funded by legislative appropriations, donations, grants, and reimbursements from participants who fail to meet service commitments.

• Requires the University of Hawaii law school dean to report to the legislature on program status no later than 20 days before each regular session beginning in 2022; takes effect July 1, 2050.