HB844

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature declares that the establishment of a network improvement community task force to develop a kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii is a matter of statewide concern.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes a network improvement community task force to build an infrastructure platform leading to the development of a K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii. The task force shall coordinate with the University of Hawaii to develop a pilot K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher education program, to be coordinated through the University of Hawaii Maui college campus. The goal of the task force shall be to build the capacity for, and eventually establish, a statewide program to recruit, prepare, and retain K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers to work in high-need areas, with an emphasis on the teacher graduates being Native Hawaiian, Filipino, or another minority group that is underrepresented among K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The chancellor of the University of Hawaii Maui college;

(2) The complex area superintendent for the Baldwin‑Kekaulike-Kulanihakoi-Maui complex area;

(3) The head of school of Kamehameha Schools Maui; and

(4) The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of education.

The task force may add additional members as it deems necessary.

(d) In developing the infrastructure platform, the task force shall:

(1) Generate baseline data of current K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers in target areas to determine need, interest, and capacity for recruiting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors to become science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers;

(2) Engage in relationship-building activities for recruiting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors to become K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers;

(3) Create strong partnerships with receiving high-need complex areas to ensure that the complex areas are preparing K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers to teach the complex area's curriculum according to the complex area's professional standards and evaluation metrics; and

(4) Build high-retention, supportive pathways into teaching strategies to retain minority teachers who are underrepresented in K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

(e) The task force shall submit an interim progress report of its preliminary findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024. The task force shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.

(f) The task force shall be dissolved on July 1, 2025.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment and support of the network improvement community task force established in subsection (a) of section 2 of this part.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii Maui college for the purposes of this part.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics entrepreneur-resident located at the University of Hawaii Maui college to provide expertise and assistance to the network improvement community task force established in subsection (a) of section 2 of this part.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii Maui college for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 5. The University of Hawaii Maui college's office of international and regional partnerships connects students from Maui and abroad to develop meaningful relationships in an increasingly globalized world. The office offers study abroad opportunities in Canada, the Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Okinawa, the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain. Studying abroad helps students gain foreign language skills and cross-cultural competence. The office of international and regional partnerships also works with the Maui County Sister Cities Foundation to promote economic and educational relationships between the county of Maui and the world. The office of international and regional partnerships estimates that $ is needed to allow eighteen to twenty students to participate in study abroad programs, based on past travel costs.

Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii Maui college's office of international and regional partnerships to subsidize travel expenses and tuition for students to study abroad.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the study abroad programs offered by the University of Hawaii Maui college's office of international and regional partnerships.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii Maui college for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	844
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII