STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1063

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 492

       H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 492, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate monies for two specialist II positions within the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Teachers Association, University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education, and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that, since 2012, the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board funding is based solely on teacher licensing fees, including funding for staff and personnel positions.  Your Committee further finds that, prior to 2012, monies for two specialists to support day to day licensing functions of the Board was provided by the general fund of the State.  Your Committee additionally finds that licensing fees have not been sufficient to meet the financial needs of the Board, forcing the Board to reduce its staff to the minimum necessary to perform only its basic functions.  This measure will support the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board in its mission to maintain licensing standards and perform licensure testing by restoring general fund monies for the Board's specialist staff positions.

     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. 492, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair