STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3242

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2400

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Labor and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2400, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require a teacher to surrender their teaching license if the teacher resigns or retires during the pendency of any investigation into allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other physical abuse of a student; and

(2) Require the surrender of the teacher's license to be reported to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's keiki have a right to learn and grow in safe, protected learning environments. However, some teachers facing serious allegations involving sexual harassment or assault, or other physical abuse of a student, may exploit existing systems and avoid termination or discipline by relocating to another educational institution for employment before completion of any investigation that may otherwise disqualify the teacher from such employment. Therefore, this measure ensures greater accountability for teachers while ensuring proper safeguards for Hawaii's keiki.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2400, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2400, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair