Authorizes school administrators, with approval of superintendent of education, to determine whether certain retired teachers are qualified to substitute teach without meeting prerequisite coursework required of other substitute teachers.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Substitute teachers are a valuable resource to any educational system and the department of education needs to encourage qualified people to serve as substitute teachers. In 2004, the legislature realized that retired teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience as substitute teachers.

Act 137, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, authorized an exemption, for ten years, for retired teachers holding a teaching license from prerequisite course requirements necessary for other substitute teachers. However, the legislature finds that allowing such an exemption without any oversight may lead to unintended negative consequences. The logical resolution to this problem would be to allow the school's administrator to determine whether the retired teacher is qualified to substitute teach.

The purpose of this Act is to exempt licensed retired teachers from any prerequisite coursework that the department may require of other substitute teachers unless required by the school administrator and approved by the superintendent of education.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-638.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-638.5[]] Retired teachers; coursework waiver; substitute teachers. Retired department teachers who held a valid teaching certificate or license at the date of their retirement shall be exempt from any prerequisite coursework that the department requires of other substitute teachers for a period of ten years after the date of their retirement[.] unless specifically requested otherwise by a school administrator and approved by the superintendent of education or designee."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.