STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1539

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 981

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 981, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to more fully support the work of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB), such as teacher licensing, approval of educator-preparation programs, professional-development support, continuing work on full reciprocity with other states regarding teachers, and alternative routes to licensure, by repealing the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Special Fund so that all funding for the HTSB would be appropriated from the general fund.

The HTSB and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i supported this measure. The Department of Education, Department of Budget and Finance, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2052.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 981, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 981, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair