STAND. COM. REP. NO.  907

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 501

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 501, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide public school psychologists who have certification from the National Association of School Psychologists the opportunity to qualify for bonuses and other financial incentives that are currently available to teachers.

This measure also affords a bonus to certain nationally-certified school psychologists who continue to work at a public school that has improved and transitioned from a special designation, including a low performance, high turnover rate, or hard-to-fill designation.

The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists and three individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Government Employees Association AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, and an individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 501, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair