STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3049

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2691

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. 2691, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the increase in teachers who specialize in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a network improvement community task force to develop a kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii; and

(2) Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii Maui College to support the activities of the task force and for one full-time equivalent STEM entrepreneur-resident position at the college to provide expertise and assistance to the task force.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii.

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Department of Education, Department of the Attorney General, and one individual submitted written comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the anticipated development of a K‑12 STEM teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii, through the work of the network improvement community task force established by this measure, is a worthy endeavor to address the shortage of qualified STEM teachers in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the development of a K-12 STEM teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii is a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Changing the appropriation amounts to unspecified amounts;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2691, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2691, 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