STAND. COM. REP. NO. 882-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2284

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2284, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF GROW OUR OWN RESOURCES FOR HAWAIIAN IMMERSION TEACHERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the shortfall of licensed teachers in public and charter schools, particularly in Hawaiian immersion and identified shortage area schools, by establishing and appropriating funds for the Hawaii Teacher Stipend Program and Hawaii Charter School Teacher Stipend Program, to provide stipends to students enrolled in a University of Hawai‘i teacher program and who agree to teach in Hawaii's public or charter schools for five years, with preference given for students who commit to teach in a Hawaiian immersion school.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; State Public Charter School Commission; University of Hawai‘i at Hilo; Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani Hawaiian Language College at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo; Hawaii State Teachers Association; ‘Aha Kauleo; Aloha ‘Āina Legal Group, LLLC; Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Iki Lab Public Charter School; Kamehameha Schools; ‘Aha Pūnana Leo; Hui Makua o Pū‘ōhala; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Budget and Finance, and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Education.

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. 2284, 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