STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1009

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 819

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 819, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to establish a visiting international teacher license for certain qualified visa holders.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Alliance Abroad Group, J1 Teacher, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

Your Committee finds that the term "teacher" is defined in section 302A-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and that using that term, rather than "educators," throughout the measure will help to harmonize the language with existing law. Your Committee believes that this measure will help to increase the pool of eligible and qualified teachers to fulfill the faculty positions required by the Department of Education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing all references to the terms "educator" or "educators" with the terms "teacher" or "teachers," as appropriate.

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. 819, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 819, 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