STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1249-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2359

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2359, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to establish K-12 expanded teaching cohort programs in each county for students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Education, and Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Your Committee finds that for a variety of reasons, Hawaii has long suffered from a shortage of qualified public-school teachers -- a shortage that not only continues but is worsening. Your Committee further finds that these teacher shortages are most severe on the Neighbor Islands. This measure will help to address the teacher shortage through the establishment of K-12 expanded cohort programs across the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2359, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2359, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair