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 S.R. No. 37 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the State Auditor to conduct an audit of the administrative services branch of the Department of Education.

Your Committee heard testimony in support from three teachers and in opposition to the measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds it unacceptable that it takes the Department of Education 6-8 weeks to provide new employees and interdepartmental transfers with their first paycheck. Although a more modest delay might be understandable (although no less acceptable) for new employees, for the same delay to occur with longer-term employees who are simply transferring to a new position within the department is inexplicable.

Your Committee further finds that the bottom line is that the private sector by and large pays its employees in a very timely manner and the public sector should not be allowed to aim for a lower standard, especially when the technological and procedural capabilities to mitigate this problem are so clearly present and so easily applicable. Although your Committee applauds the department's belated efforts to automate payroll, employees deserve to be paid for the work they do, especially new teachers, who have so much to adapt to and prepare for without having to deal with the added stress of tardy paychecks.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 37 and recommends its adoption.