STAND. COM. REP. NO. 325

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1204

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education & Technology and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1204 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the public school education scholarship program within the University of Hawaii to provide students with school tuition in return for a service commitment to teach in a public school classroom of the Department of Education; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Teachers Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committees find that there is a persistent shortage of teachers for Hawaii's public schools. This measure would provide financial assistance at the university level for students in pursuit of educational degrees. In return, scholarship recipients would agree to give back by teaching in a public school classroom in the State for a fixed period of years. In this manner, both the scholarship recipient and the public education system would benefit.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a finding that this measure addresses an issue of statewide concern;

(2) Specifying that the scholarship recipient's teaching commitment can also be fulfilled at a Hawaii public charter school;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education & Technology and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1204, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1204, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education & Technology and Education,

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair

____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair