Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program
HRS §302L-9
in effect302L-9. Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program
(a) There is established the Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program to be administered by the office to address the shortage of early childhood educators who have coursework in early childhood education.
(b) An individual shall be eligible for
stipend consideration if the individual:
(1) Is enrolled at a University of Hawaii campus or
in a University of Hawaii program and qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition;
and
(2) Is enrolled in a certificate, degree, or license
program in early childhood education, including those in the Hawaiian language
medium, which includes courses required for the respective program of study,
within the University of Hawaii system.
(c) Immediately following completion of a
certificate, degree, or license program pursuant to subsection (b), stipend
recipients shall provide early care and education services directly to children
from birth through five years of age for at least two consecutive years in one
of the early learning systems described in section 302L-2, including Hawaiian
language medium and Hawaiian immersion settings and early learning settings at
charter schools.
(d) If the recipient fails to complete a
certificate, degree, or license program pursuant to subsection (b), or to
satisfy the work requirements of subsection (c), stipend funds shall be repaid
as follows:
(1) For each year less than the designated number of
years that a stipend recipient does not meet the work requirements of
subsection (c), the recipient shall repay a proportionate percentage of the
total stipend funds received; and
(2) The repayment shall be subject to the terms and
conditions set by the office for stipend repayment, including circumstances
under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to
hardship or inability to secure employment, as well as potential for fees for
the collection of delinquent repayment.
(e) Stipend funds repaid by a stipend
recipient pursuant to subsection (d) shall be deposited into Hawaii early
childhood educator special fund established pursuant to section 302L-10.
(f) The office may accept federal funds to
support the Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program.
(g) In accordance with chapter 103D, the
office may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect
delinquent repayment of stipends owed to the office pursuant to subsection
(d). A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the office
to collect delinquent stipend repayments pursuant to this section may collect a
fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts
authorized in, the written contract.
(h) The office may adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 to implement and administer the stipend program, including the terms
of repayment pursuant to subsection (d).
[L 2021, c 210, pt of §2]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0302L/HRS_0302L-0009.htmFetched: 11/10/2026