STAND. COM. REP. NO. 174
Honolulu, Hawaii
S.D. 1
President of the Senate
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 100 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to provide flexibility in the teacher licensing process to ensure that the infusion of qualified teachers into Hawaii schools is not disrupted.
This measure accomplishes this objective by authorizing the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to temporarily suspend rules when extenuating circumstances exist and to amend or set licensing-related and other fees and charges related to the performance of its duties.
Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by one individual.
Your Committee finds that, based on the recommendations of the Hawaii Policy Group of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, the Legislature, in 2001, transferred the authority to issue licenses and renewals to teachers to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Since that time, the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board has been responsible for licensing and regulating those wishing to teach in schools within the State. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board has experienced at least one circumstance when the need to suspend its rules arose, yet it was unable to do so because the law did not specifically authorize such suspension. The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board seeks expanded authority under the law to help expedite the ability to perform its duties. This measure also provides for the authority to set and amend fees and charges related to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board's duties and function.
Your Committee understands the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board's desire to more efficiently and effectively carry out its duties through the expansion of its authority under the law. However, your Committee is concerned with the difficulties the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board currently exhibits in attempting to perform its existing duties and is unclear as to whether the expanded authority will be beneficial or detrimental to the board's operations. Therefore, your Committee believes that the expansion of authority should be permitted for a period of two years to assess the value of providing the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board with increased authority.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date the Act to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure;
(2) Repealing the authority of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to suspend its rules and amend its fees on July 1, 2009; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and to reflect preferred drafting style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 100, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 100, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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