Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1668, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide that the Department of Education (DOE) may rehire retired teachers in teacher shortage areas with prior approval of the superintendent and pursuant to collective bargaining.

Your Committees received testimony in favor of this measure from the DOE, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and the Hawaii Business Roundtable.

Your Committees find that under current law, the DOE is able to rehire retired teachers. Under the authority of Judge Ezra's federal court order, however, only five retired teachers have returned to teaching special education in the DOE. This measure will extend such rehiring shortage areas as identified by the DOE, and will help fill positions in other shortage areas and provide the knowledge, skills, and experiences of a qualified teacher to the students.

Your Committees have amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of Senate Bill No. 1215, S.D. 2, which:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1668, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1668, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.