STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3030

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2359

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 Ways and Means, 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 and intent of this measure is to increase the number of teachers in the State by requiring the University of Hawaii to establish additional teaching programs.

Specifically, this measure requires the University of Hawaii to:

(1) Establish, in each county, K-12 expanded teaching cohort programs for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in education; and

(2) Submit reports to the Legislature on the number of additional programs established, the enrollment of the additional programs, the number of faculty needed to teach the additional programs, the cost of the additional programs, and the effect of the additional programs on decreasing the teacher shortage.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Department of Education, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers, with many teaching positions filled by emergency hires or instructors who have not completed a state-approved teacher preparation program. Your Committee further finds that this measure will help to address the teacher shortage by making necessary courses more accessible to students pursuing undergraduate degrees in education.

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. 2359, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair