HI HB2338

Excludes grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the Hawaii Community College Promise Program award calculation, allowing students to use those funds for indirect costs like housing, food, and living expenses instead of having them reduce their Promise award.

Changes the program from a "last-dollar" award structure, where other aid is subtracted first, to allow students to receive Promise funds on top of other scholarships and grants.

Updates the definition of "direct cost" to include only tuition, fees, books, and supplies, removing transportation costs between dwelling and campus from the covered expenses.

Requires the program to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize total financial assistance and comply with federal regulations, including recent changes to Pell Grant rules.

Takes effect July 1, 3000 (placeholder date), with students remaining eligible for up to eight semesters if they maintain satisfactory academic progress and enroll in at least six credits per semester.