STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1475

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 18

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 18, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board with more flexibility to carry out its licensing duties.

Specifically, the measure:

(1)  Authorizes the Board to temporarily suspend its rules when extenuating circumstances require it to do so; and

(2)  Enable the Board to amend certain fees and set or amend other charges related to the performance of its duties.

     The Department of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and the University of Hawaii College of Education submitted comments in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that teachers have four years to complete the licensing process.  Your Committee recognizes, however, that there may be extenuating circumstances that justify exceptions to this, on a case by case basis, four-year time frame.

     Your Committee finds that the flexibility provided by this measure will assist the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board in addressing the pressing need for additional licensed teachers in Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying that rules may be suspended on a case by case basis when required by extenuating circumstances;

(2)  Removing references to policies or standards in section 1;

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2007; and

(4)  Making technical nonsubstantive comments for clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 18, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 18, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair