STAND. COM. REP. NO. 559

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 155

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 155 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds for a Network Improvement Community Task Force to develop a kindergarten through grade twelve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher education degree for the University of Hawaii and report to the Legislature;

(2) Appropriate funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Entrepreneur-Resident position to assist the Task Force; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii Maui College's Office of International and Regional Partnerships for study abroad programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that there is a critical need for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers throughout the State. A STEM teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii would help the State recruit, prepare, and retain qualified kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) STEM teachers, particularly in high-need areas. To address the State's STEM teacher shortage, this measure establishes a task force to build an infrastructure platform and administer a pilot program for the development of a K-12 STEM teacher education degree.

Your Committee further finds that studying abroad helps students develop foreign language skills and cross-cultural competence. However, studying abroad is financially inaccessible for some students, including for some enrolled at the University of Hawaii Maui College. To increase access to study abroad opportunities, this measure appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii Maui College's Office of International and Regional Partnerships to subsidize travel and tuition expenses for students to study abroad.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 155 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair