HB1534 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1534
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's public schools have been facing a severe teacher shortage for years with little support to address this issue. The teaching workforce in Hawaii is now increasingly made up of out-of-state teachers, creating a classroom environment where teaching faculty do not adequately reflect the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Hawaii's students.

The legislature further finds that the lack of apprenticeship programs to assist teachers in obtaining the necessary licenses and gaining workforce experience contributes to poor teacher retention, lack of diversity, and lack of recruitment of local teachers in public schools. Hawaii needs a structured teacher apprenticeship program to boost retention, diversity, and recruitment among the State's public school teachers.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a registered teacher apprenticeship program to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers for Hawaii's public schools.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart D, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program. (a) As the sponsor of a registered teacher apprenticeship program, the Hawaii teacher standards board shall develop the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program in compliance with and with the approval of the department of labor and industrial relations. The purpose of the program is to help recruit and increase the number of teachers throughout the State by utilizing an apprenticeship model for training. The program shall provide for an applicant who successfully completes the program to obtain a teaching license issued by the Hawaii teacher standards board.

(b) The Hawaii teacher standards board may work with Hawaii teacher standards board‑approved institutions of higher education who are authorized Hawaii post-secondary education programs with a physical presence in Hawaii, the department of labor and industrial relations, and other educational stakeholders approved by the Hawaii teacher standards board for the purposes of the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program.

(1) Is an employee of an accredited public school or public charter school in the State; or

(2) Is hired to begin working for a school approved or accredited by the department for which the individual is applying for participation in the program.

(d) The Hawaii teacher standards board, in compliance with the department of labor and industrial relations and federal

teacher apprenticeship regulations, shall determine requirements for acceptance and completion of the program by an applicant.

(e) The Hawaii teacher standards board shall issue a teaching license to an applicant who successfully completes all of the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program requirements and meets all teacher licensing requirements.

(f) The Hawaii teacher standards board shall determine mentor qualifications and requirements in compliance with federal Department of Labor regulations. Mentors shall receive a stipend of $3,000 when requirements established pursuant to this subsection are met."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program pursuant to section 302A- , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2024.