CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 31-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2008

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2080

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam and Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2080, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER LICENSURE,"

 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

 

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to automatically suspend and subsequently revoke a teacher's license when the teacher has been convicted of certain sexual offenses against a minor.

 

     This bill also:

 

     (1)  Requires the Board of Education and the Clerk of Court in which the conviction is made to notify appropriate parties of the conviction; and

 

     (2)  Provides procedures for reconsideration of suspension or revocation of a teacher's license for the conviction of certain sexual offenses against a minor.

 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the health and safety of our keiki, particularly while they are in school, is a high priority for the State.  While the Department of Education takes necessary precautions in screening and hiring employees, the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board can provide great assistance in ensuring that teachers convicted of certain crimes do not retain or renew their licenses to teach in the State.  This bill authorizes the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to automatically suspend and subsequently revoke a teacher's license upon notice that a teacher has been convicted of a sexual offense against a minor.  Although this practice is being examined by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board for inclusion in its administrative rules, this matter is appropriate for immediate statutory implementation until such rules may be adopted to ensure the safety of our students.

 

     Upon further review, your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by changing its effective date to upon approval; provided that it shall be repealed on July 1, 2010, or upon adoption of rules regarding the matter by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, whichever is earlier.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2080, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2080, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Co-Chair

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Co-Chair

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

____________________________

BLAKE K. OSHIRO, Co-Chair