STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3042

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2820

S.D. 2

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. 2820, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to fund pay incentives for teachers in special education positions, hard‑to‑staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Department of Education, Aha Kauleo - Statewide Hawaiian Immersion Schools Council, Hawaii Association of School Psychologists, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, HEE Coalition, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Democratic Party of Hawaii Labor Caucus, Waianae Intermediate School, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the shortage of qualified teachers in special education positions, hard-to-staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs continues to increase. Your Committee further finds that appropriating funds for teacher differentials will help to retain existing teachers in those areas and recruit new teachers to fill the vacancies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from charter schools (EDN 600) to charter schools commission and administration (EDN 612);

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

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 2820, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2820, 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