Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1668, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to address the State's teacher shortage by:

1. Allowing the Department of Education (DOE) to employ retired teachers in teacher shortage areas and as mentors for new classroom teachers from July 1, 2001, to July 1, 2005;
2. Enabling the retired teachers to continue receiving normal retirement benefits without penalty, but prohibiting them from earning additional retirement service credit; and
3. Requiring teachers to have been retired three calendar years to qualify.

DOE, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students, and the Hawaii Business Roundtable testified in support of this measure. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor submitted comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1668, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.