STAND. COM. REP. NO. 965

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1540

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1540 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend section 4 of Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, to make permanent the provisions in section 302A-804, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that:

     (1)  Reduce the maximum employment period for teachers hired on an emergency basis by the Department of Education from four years to three years; and

     (2)  Require those unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis prior to July 1, 2008, to attain licensure within four years from the date of employment.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that making permanent the provisions of Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, provides for better alignment of the Hawaii teacher licensing requirements with the criteria for highly qualified teachers as prescribed by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law 107-110, as well as Hawaii's Race to the Top efforts.

     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 H.B. No. 1540, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair