STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2145

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2080

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2080 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER LICENSURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to revoke a teacher's license when the teacher has been convicted of certain sexual offenses against a minor.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

     Your Committee finds that the health and safety of our keiki, particularly while they are in school, is a high priority for the State.  While the Department of Education takes necessary precautions in screening and hiring employees, the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board can provide great assistance in ensuring that teachers convicted of certain crimes do not retain or renew their licenses to teach in the State.  This measure requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to automatically revoke a teacher's license upon notice that a teacher has been convicted of a sexual offense against a minor.  Although this practice is being examined by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board for inclusion in its administrative rules, your Committee believes that this matter is appropriate for statutory implementation to ensure the safety of our students.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and 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. 2080, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2080, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair