STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1156-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2820

S.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2820, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for various teacher differentials to address various labor shortages in the areas of special education, hard-to-staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii at Mānoa College of Education, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, ‘Aha Kauleo, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Hawaii Labor Caucus, Hui for Excellence in Education, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Special Education Advisory Council, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Employees' Retirement System; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers is essential to the success of Hawaii's public education system. Your Committee further finds that the State continues to face a chronic teacher shortage in special education positions, hard-to-staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs. This measure will appropriate funds for teacher differentials that will help to address the State's teacher shortage in these areas.

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. 2820, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Tourism.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair