CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO.116-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2164
H.D. 2
S.D. 2
C.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2164, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EDUCATOR LOAN PROGRAM,"
having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.
The purpose of this bill is to support teacher education and retention by strengthening the Hawaii Educator Loan Program (Program) and the Hawaii Educator Loan Program Special Fund (Fund) by:
(1) Reducing the loan forgiveness period for teachers from ten years to six years;
(2) Specifying a schedule of loan forgiveness to conform to the reduction in the loan forgiveness period;
(3) Authorizing additional sources of funding for the Fund;
(4) Establishing an appropriation ceiling for the Fund;
(5) Declaring that funds remaining at the end of each fiscal year shall remain in the Fund and shall not lapse to the general fund;
(6) Specifying that not more than five per cent of the total amount of outstanding loans may be used for administrative expenses of the Fund;
(7) Expediting the implementation of the Program by exempting the University of Hawaii (UH) from the public notice and public hearing requirements under chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, when adopting rules for the Program;
(8) Appropriating moneys to be deposited in the Fund;
(9) Authorizing the expenditure of moneys from the Fund; and
(10) Allowing collection agencies who enter into contracts with UH to collect delinquent loans from students to pass its fees on to the debtors.
Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii is faced with a severe teacher shortage that is projected to increase sharply if steps aren't taken to recruit and retain qualified educators. The Program shows great promise as a tool to attract prospective teachers to Hawaii and encourage them to teach here when they graduate. This bill will take further steps to enhance the Program and make it more attractive to future teachers.
Upon further consideration, your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:
(1) Deleting the appropriations into and out of the Fund;
(2) Deleting the appropriation ceiling for the Fund; and
(3) Changing the effective date to upon approval for all sections.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2164, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2164, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:
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ON THE PART OF THE SENATE |
ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE |
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____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Co-Chair |
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____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair |
____________________________ SCOTT K. SAIKI, Co-Chair |
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