HB2602

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2602
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to teacher retention.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds the State needs to provide monetary incentives to recruit teachers and promote longevity in the field. The purpose of this Act is to establish the Onipaʻa Teacher Bonus Program which provides monetary awards to licensed and certified teachers who practice in the State for an extended period of time.

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

"§302A- Onipaʻa Teacher Bonus Program. (a) The department shall establish a teacher bonus program which provides bonuses to teachers in the department of education who exemplify high teacher standards and accomplished teaching through means deemed appropriate by the board of education. Each school must submit a report concerning the use of money distributed by the department. The department must provide a summary of the reports to the board and the legislature.

(b) The program shall be outlined by the following provisions:

(1) Beginning after the effective date of this Act, a teacher that is considered a full-time employee of the department and teaches for two school years in such school shall be eligible to apply for the bonuses pursuant in this section.

(2) The department shall award bonuses to any eligible teacher who applies and meets the requirements of this section.

(3) The department shall develop and administer the Onipaʻa Teacher Bonus Program. The program shall consist of a series of bonuses available to eligible teachers who meet the qualifications of this section. Such bonuses include the "Ola Professional Performance" bonus and the "Ola Loa Longevity" bonuses.

(4) The department shall maintain the records related to the program and any teacher receiving a bonus pursuant to the program, including tracking teacher demographics, the number of years a teacher has taught, the annual income a teacher receives from teaching, the school and location a teacher teaches at, and any other information the department may require. The department shall share such information except as aggregate data that does not include personally identifiable information for any particular teacher.

(5) The board may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.

(6) The "Ola Professional Performance" bonus awards shall be awarded to an eligible teacher who has been practicing within the State for at least two school years.

(A) This award shall total no more than two thousand five hundred dollars.

(7) The "Ola Loa Longevity" bonus awards shall be awarded to an eligible teacher who has been practicing within the State for at least five school years. The teacher shall be eligible for receiving this bonus award on a recurring basis every five years.

(A) Each issued award shall total no more than five thousand dollars.

"Bonus" means a non-base, building payment that is in addition to a teacher's regular salary and that is awarded based on outstanding service and awarded to a full-time teacher who satisfies the licensing and certification as outlined in chapter 302A-805, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

"Department" means the department of education.

"Board" means the board of education."

SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statues, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act 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 the appropriation made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii state department of education in the sum of or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the funding of the Onipaʻa Teacher Bonus Program.

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

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________