Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 509, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a separate collective bargaining unit for substitute teachers employed by the Department of Education (DOE).

The Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 368, submitted testimony in support of this measure.

The DOE and the Office of Collective Bargaining submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

Your Committees find that substitute teachers fulfill an important role in bridging the gaps between shortages that arise from the absence of full-time, permanent teaching staff and any additional interim teaching staff needs within the DOE. Under existing law, substitute teachers lack the necessary representation to protect, preserve, and promote their rights. Your Committees believe that substitute teachers should be afforded representation equal to that of their Unit 5 equivalents.

Your Committees are concerned that the perception of mandatory membership in a union will act as a deterrent for qualified individuals interested in infrequently serving as substitute teachers within the public school system.

Your Committees have amended the measure as follows:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 509, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 509, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.