STAND. COM. REP. NO.1487
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.C.R. No. 183
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Education and Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 183 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE TOTAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE OF HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request a review and evaluation of the total annual compensation package of Hawaii public school teachers.
Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education. The Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted comments.
Your Committees find that Hawaii's public school system is faced with an ongoing critical shortage of teachers that is not unlike that in most other jurisdictions in our country. Your Committees further find that this shortage is based upon the need to attract more young people into the profession as well as retaining teachers once they enter the profession. Your Committees note that other states have developed what are considered substantial and lucrative compensation packages to attract and retain teaching professionals. Thus, your Committees agree that an independent review and comparative evaluation of Hawaii's public school teacher compensation package with other jurisdictions, using comparable data and factors, is critical to understanding how we can most effectively address our teacher shortage.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Including language that asserts that there is a perception that the retirement, medical, and insurance benefits of Hawaii's teachers are the best among the nation, by virtue of their status as employees of the State;
(2) Including clarifying language that the total compensation package for Hawaii's teachers is perceived as substantial and lucrative, although cost-of-living differences are often not considered in making such comparisons;
(3) Requesting that the Auditor, in conducting the evaluation, use published information that is widely disseminated within the State and outside the State;
(4) Requesting the Auditor evaluate compensation packages for entry level full-time teachers holding bachelor degrees, teachers with bachelor degrees with two to ten years of service, and teachers with bachelor degrees with ten to fifteen or more years of services;
(5) Requesting the Auditor to consider cost-of-living and differences for teachers holding advanced degrees and other professional certifications such as master teachers, in making comparisons with other jurisdictions;
(6) Requesting the Auditor to exclude from the study one-time differentials and one-time awards, grants, and gifts; and
(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.
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 concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 183, as amended herein, recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Labor,
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____________________________ BRIAN KANNO, Chair |
____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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