THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2600
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to teachers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a shortage of school supplies for public school classrooms and a lack of funding to purchase supplies has been an ongoing problem for many years. As a result, many teachers use their personal resources to purchase much-needed classroom and instructional supplies. According to a United States Department of Education study, ninety-four per cent of teachers in traditional public schools use their personal resources on classroom and instructional supplies. Additionally, of the teachers who spend their own money on classroom and instructional supplies without reimbursement, the average amount spent per teacher is $479 a year. While the educator expense deduction allows eligible teachers to deduct up to $250 worth of qualified expenses from their income, a teachers' school supplies purchasing program would provide additional support for teachers by directly assisting them in the purchasing of classroom and instructional supplies.

The purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for a teachers' school supplies purchasing program to allow teachers to be issued debit cards for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred for purchasing necessary classroom and instructional supplies.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   Teachers' school supplies purchasing program; established. (a) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, there is established a teachers' school supplies purchasing program to allow teachers to be issued debit cards for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred for purchasing necessary school supplies for the students the teachers instruct.

(b) Any classroom teacher hired by the department prior to the first instructional day of the 2022-2023 school year shall be eligible for the program established under subsection (a); provided that only one teacher per classroom may be issued a debit card per school year.

(c) The debit card issued under the teachers' school supplies purchasing program shall be credited with up to $250 per school year; provided that the debit card shall be encoded to only allow the purchasing of schools supplies that are eligible for the program as determined by the department.

(d) The issuance of debit cards pursuant to this section shall be subject to available funds.

(e) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the teachers' school supplies purchasing program established pursuant to this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020, and be repealed on June 30, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Teachers' School Supplies Purchasing Program; Established; Department of Education; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the teachers' school supplies purchasing program to assist teachers in purchasing certain school supplies. Appropriates funds. Repeals on 6/30/2022.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.