STAND. COM. REP. NO. 692-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1595

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1595 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE LIBRARIAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the existing statutory cap on the salary for the State Librarian.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Education. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the existing salary cap for the State Librarian significantly hinders the ability of the Board of Education to recruit and retain qualified individuals to manage Hawaii's statewide public library system. Your Committee further finds that comparable executive-level positions within the State are not subject to similar statutory salary caps. Your Committee believes that removing the statutory salary cap of the State Librarian will enable the Board of Education to set compensation for the position based on market conditions, responsibilities, and performance standards, which will improve the administration and modernization of Hawaii's public library system by attracting and retaining highly qualified individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1595, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1595, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair