Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2055 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board has sole jurisdiction over all matters concerning the issuance and revocation of teacher licenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Lieutenant Governor, Superintendent of Education, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the measure from a private individual.

Your Committee finds that, while the Department of Education has a continuing responsibility under law to conduct general employment functions and maintain its current staff, the department’s former teacher licensing functions have been superseded by those of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Although the department has transferred one position to the board, a separate entity administratively attached to the department, it is clear that, in the future, the board will be hiring its own staff with funds allocated by the legislature.

Your Committee has amended the measure to delete a reference to the transfer of positions from the department to the board.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2055, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.