STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2263

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2681

       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. 2681 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the compensation provided to members of the Board of Education.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Increases the daily compensation rate for Board of Education members to $200;

     (2)  Establishes a protocol allowance for expenses incurred in the performance of a Board of Education member's duties and responsibilities;

     (3)  Allows Board of Education members to receive personal expenses at specified rates when attending meetings or while on official business as authorized by the chairperson; and

     (4)  Appropriates funds for the members' compensation and expenses.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by Board of Education.

     Your Committee finds that the members of the Board of Education provide a valuable public service to the people of Hawaii, and, over the years, their duties and responsibilities have become more extensive, including increased jurisdiction such as responsibilities relating to the public charter schools.  Your Committee further finds that the provision of appropriate compensation is a necessity for these hard-working individuals.  This measure provides for an increase in the current compensation rate and the receipt of a protocol allowance and certain other expenses related to the performance of the member's duties and responsibilities.  Eligible expenses will include those related to certain meetings and official activities as authorized by the chairperson.  Your Committee believes that increased compensation is warranted; however, a more conservative scheme would be more appropriate at this time.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the provisions that:

          (A)  Establish a protocol allowance for expenses incurred in the performance of a Board of Education member's duties and responsibilities; and

          (B)  Allow Board of Education members to receive personal expenses at specified rates when attending meetings or while on official business as authorized by the chairperson; and

     (2)  Specifying that members of the Board of Education shall be compensated at the following rates:

          (A)  $200 per day for each day's actual attendance at general business meetings; and

          (B)  $100 per day for each day's actual attendance at special meetings, standing committee meetings, ad hoc committee meetings, and community meetings of the board.

     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. 2681, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2681, 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,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair