STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2724

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2779

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2779, S.D. 1, 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 update provisions relating to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Increases membership on the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to include the Chairperson of the Native Hawaiian Education Council and a nonvoting public university student teacher; and

(2) Clarifies that a permit is required for unlicensed teachers serving in public schools.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Department of Education, University of Hawaii System, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, and twelve individuals.

Your Committee finds that increasing the diversity of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to include a representative of the Native Hawaiian Education Council and a student teacher will ensure that the needs and perspectives of Native Hawaiians and future teachers are considered in developing rules and policies relating to teacher licensure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that a representative, rather than the Chairperson, of the Native Hawaiian Education Council shall serve on the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to be appointed by the Governor pursuant to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2779, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2779, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair