STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1213
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: S.B. No. 1636
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1636, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHERS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to improve education in Hawaii by:
(1) Granting salary increases of 3.14 percent of their annual salaries for teachers who have completed a year's satisfactory service if the teacher earns under $50,000 per year;
(2) Granting a biannual performance step increase of 3.14 percent for teachers earning $50,000 per year or more who have received positive performance evaluations as determined by the principal or immediate supervisor and who have complied with certain other statutory requirements;
(3) Providing for an annual incremental or longevity increase for a year's satisfactory service in any fiscal year if a teacher does not qualify for an annual incremental increase or biannual performance step increase as outlined in (1) and (2); and
(4) Creating a comprehensive teacher evaluation process.
The Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in support of this bill. The Department of Education (DOE) supported the intent of this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance (B&F) opposed this bill. The Hawaii Government Employees Association submitted comments.
Education is one of the most important aspects of a modern society. Your Committees find that a key factor in ensuring a quality education for all of Hawaii's students is the quality of their teachers. One way of ensuring that the teaching staff of any school is qualified is through an evaluation process that brings together teachers and staff to assist those who are not as proficient in certain areas in improving their skills. However, it is equally important to reward those individuals who strive for excellence to enhance the educational system. Incremental annual salary increases serves as a positive reinforcement for skill improvement among teachers and staff.
Your Committees understand the concerns raised by DOE and B&F regarding the negative impact this measure may have upon the ability of the State to negotiate collective bargaining agreements but note that incremental "merit based" salary increases were used by DOE in the 1970s.
Your Committees utmost concern is the improvement of Hawaii's educational system. Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing it with the substance of H.B. No. 1606 H.D. 1. As amended this bill:
(1) Eliminates the provision of annual incremental or longevity increase for a year's satisfactory service in any fiscal year if a teacher does not qualify for an annual incremental increase or biannual performance step increase;
(2) Eliminates the requirement that incremental and longevity step increases be established by law;
(3) Establishes annual salary increases for teachers who meet various performance-based and other requirements;
(4) Deletes the requirement that a teacher earn under $50,000 per year in order to qualify for a salary increase for teachers who have completed a year's satisfactory service;
(5) Clarifies that the granting of a performance step increase to teachers earning $50,000 per year or more who have received positive performance evaluations as determined by the principal or immediate supervisor and who have complied with certain other statutory requirements shall be made annually rather than biannually;
(6) Creates a comprehensive teacher evaluation process;
(7) Deletes the requirement that passage of this measure not impair any collective bargaining agreement existing as of the effective date of this measure in a manner that violates either the Constitution of the State of Hawaii or Article I of the United States Constitution; and
(8) Changes the effective date from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2010, to encourage further discussion.
Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1636, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1636, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Education,
|
____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair |
____________________________ KIRK CALDWELL, Chair |