Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1667, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish the Hawaii education loan program and special fund for the purpose of providing financial support to students who are enrolled in programs that culminate in the awarding of a teaching license, and who agree to teach in the Hawaii public school system.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Education, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. Testimony in opposition to the measure was received from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of teachers in Hawaii's public schools. This year, the Department of Education hired approximately 1,300 new teachers, 10% of the entire teaching force. A loan forgiveness program would offer incentives for young people to enter the teaching profession. It would also keep our pool of teachers in Hawaii, and promote the retention of our teachers, thus helping to alleviate the teacher shortage.

Your Committee has amended the measure by replacing its contents with the contents of S.B. No. 1216, S.D. 2. Although substantially similar, S.B. No. 1216, S.D. 2, deletes references to the University of Hawaii College of Education. Furthermore, all references to "department of education-approved" were replaced with "state-approved" in anticipation of the likelihood that the responsibility for approving teacher education programs will be transferred from the Department of Education to the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1667, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1667, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.