STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2333

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2183

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2183 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt certain Department of Education employees from the state residency requirement under section 78-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual.

Your Committee finds that given expanding telework options and infrastructure, the hiring of entirely remote professionals for certain positions within the Department of Education has the potential to satisfy critical hiring needs in a fiscally prudent manner. This is particularly applicable to positions in the areas of information technology and online learning, as well as other highly specialized positions.

Accordingly, this measure will help satisfy critical hiring needs for the Department of Education, in a fiscally prudent manner, by exempting certain employees from the state residency requirement. Your Committee notes that this measure includes certain criteria to ensure that the exemption is limited to situations in which the hiring of non-resident employees is in the best interests of the State.

Your Committee further notes, however, concerns expressed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association regarding a preference for employing qualified persons living within the State. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Restricting the state residency exemption to positions that are already being contracted outside of the State; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2183, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2183, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair