CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 58

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1221

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1221, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify wording regarding the delegation of powers to the Executive Director of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to timely approve license and permit applications; and

(2) Clarify the reporting of data from the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, and charter schools to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, including the number of classrooms without a licensed teacher during the school year.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii continues to suffer from a shortage of qualified teachers. Additionally, the existing approval process for licensed teachers often delays individuals who meet all of the requirements for a teaching license or permit from obtaining their license. This measure ensures that individuals who meet all requirements and receive approval from the Executive Director of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board are issued teaching licenses or permits in a timelier manner.

Your Committee on Conference further finds that the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission currently report the number of emergency hire teachers in public school classrooms. This measure adds an additional reporting requirement of the number of classrooms without a licensed teacher to assist the Legislature and schools in knowing the actual need for closing the teacher recruitment and retention gap.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date to upon approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1221, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1221, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair