§346-17.4 - Higher education board allowances for students. - Hawaii Statutes

     §346-17.4  Higher education board allowances for students.  (a)  An eligible former foster youth shall be eligible for higher education board allowances after reaching the age of majority, and the higher education board allowance for that former foster youth shall be paid to an accredited institution of higher education, another intermediary contracted by the department, the former foster youth, or to the former foster youth's former foster parents or legal custodians, as appropriate; provided that:

     (1)  The former foster youth is twenty-six years old or younger;

     (2)  The former foster youth has submitted an application for the higher education board allowance through the age of twenty-one years old, except that a former foster youth who is between the ages of twenty-two years and twenty-six years on July 1, 2008, and attending an institution of higher education, may apply for a higher education board allowance after July 1, 2008, and no later than June 30, 2009; and

     (3)  The former foster youth is attending or has been accepted to attend an accredited institution of higher education.

     (b)  The higher education board allowance may be issued while the former foster youth is attending an accredited institution of higher education on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis, in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

     (c)  Reimbursement to foster parents for the former foster youth's higher education board cost up to the maximum allowable board amount shall be made retroactive to the former foster youth's entry into an accredited institution of higher education on a full-time basis, but no earlier than July 1, 1987, or on a part-time basis for the first academic year, but no earlier than July 1, 1999.

      (d)  Higher education board allowances may be applied by the former foster youth to costs incurred in undertaking full-time studies or part-time studies at an institution of higher education in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

     (e)  The duration of the total higher education board allowance shall not exceed sixty months.

     (f)  The department's standards relating to income resources of foster children shall be applicable to this section.

     (g)  Higher education board allowances shall be provided subject to the availability of state and federal funds. [L 1989, c 394, §1; am L 1990, c 276, §1; am L 1999, c 124, §1; am L 2000, c 79, §1; am L 2001, c 80, §2; am L 2006, c 289, §3; am L 2008, c 198, §2]