STAND. COM. REP. NO.3186
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2164
H.D. 2
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2164, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EDUCATOR LOAN PROGRAM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to amend the Hawaii educator loan program law to more effectively encourage potential teachers to attend college in Hawaii and teach in our public schools after their graduation.
To increase the supply of qualified teachers in Hawaii's public schools, the bill:
(1) Reduces the loan forgiveness period from ten years to six years, and specifies the amount of the loan that is forgiven during each year of the initial six-year period of employment;
(2) Establishes an unspecified appropriation ceiling for the special fund, provides that surplus moneys remain in the special fund at the end of each fiscal year, and authorizes expenditure of up to five per cent of outstanding loans for administrative expenses;
(3) Appropriates an unspecified amount of funds to the Hawaii educator loan program special fund, and appropriates an unspecified amount of the special fund for purposes of the Hawaii educator loan program; and
(4) Authorizes the University of Hawaii to adopt rules, exempt from public notice and public hearing requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, to implement the Hawaii educator loan program.
Your Committee finds that the shortage of qualified teachers in Hawaii is a serious problem that impacts the education of our children. Teacher quality is of great consequence in student achievement and education. It has been established that teachers leave the profession most frequently during their first three to five years of teaching. Those who continue to teach for five years are more likely to stay in the profession.
This bill aims to increase the number of qualified teachers as well as lower the attrition rate of new teachers. By requiring only six years of service for forgiveness of a teacher's student loan, this bill will encourage high school graduates to receive their college education in Hawaii and become teachers in our public schools. Allowing administrative rules to implement the Hawaii educator loan program to be adopted without public notice and public hearing will shorten the time required to make loans available to potential teachers.
Upon reflection, your Committee has amended the bill by changing the amount appropriated to be deposited into the Hawaii educator loan program special fund and the amount appropriated out of the special fund from blank amounts to $1, in both instances, to facilitate further discussion on this measure.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2164, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2164, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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