STAND. COM. REP. NO. 776-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2603

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2603, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish initiatives at the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to expand opportunities for career development of prospective teachers as a model that can be replicated for other high-demand career fields in the future, by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Education to establish a pilot program that provides grants for certain high school students to enroll in college courses through the Running Start Program or other similar programs that allow high school students to earn college credits during the 2020-2021 academic year, and appropriating funds to establish the pilot program; and

(2) Expanding the eligibility criteria for the Hawaii Educator Loan Program to include persons who have successfully completed a program in teacher education at a career academy and agree to teach as a full-time teacher for at least three years at a public school in the State after completing the state-approved teacher education program, and appropriating funds for the Hawaii Educator Loan Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Executive Office on Early Learning, and Early Learning Board.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2603, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair