STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1210

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1143

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1143, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER SALARIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to attract and retain classroom teachers who accept long-term positions at hard-to-staff schools by requiring that teachers who accept those positions are paid salaries equal to the greater of the salary under the statutorily-provided salary schedule or the national average salary of classroom teachers with similar experience in a similar position.  The measure also requires a teacher to forego any pay differential if the teacher is paid the national average salary.

 

     The O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing for an annual cost of living adjustment for teachers who are paid the national average salary of a similarly situated teacher;

 

     (2)  Making the provision regarding the salaries of teachers who accept long-term positions at hard-to-staff schools subject to collective bargaining; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 1143, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1143, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair