STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3197

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2052

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2052, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow certain early childhood education professionals to participate in the Hawaii Educator Loan Program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Allows students who agree to teach full-time at early childhood education centers or facilities for a specified length of time to participate in the Hawaii Educator Loan Program;

(2) Changes the criteria for determining the amount of a Hawaii Educator Loan Program recipient's loan award and interest that will be waived each year; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to the University of Hawaii to provide loan forgiveness to early childhood education professionals.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Early Learning Board, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Kamehameha Schools, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that encouraging the development of early childhood education professionals will ensure that Hawaii's students receive an educational foundation that will help to prevent these students from being inappropriately referred to special education or engaging in activities that could lead to suspensions or expulsions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the following persons may participate in the Hawaii Educator Loan Program:

(A) Students who agree to teach at Hawaii public schools and are placed in teaching positions that are not in an area that is relevant to the teacher's academic major; and

(B) Students who agree to teach at an early childhood education center or facility that is participating in the Executive Office on Early Learning's Public Prekindergarten Program;

(2) Establishing the maximum amount of total loan forgiveness that the Hawaii Educator Loan Program will provide to a recipient;

(3) Excluding from this measure existing loans under the Hawaii Educator Loan Program; and

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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. 2052, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2052, 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