STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2219

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2873

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2873 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CODE OF ETHICS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to exempt teachers from the Code of Ethics to allow teachers to provide instruction, for compensation, to current, future, or former students when special circumstances exist.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency.  One state agency submitted testimony in opposition.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     As a result of the state furlough of school teachers, students in Hawaii are spending fewer days in the classroom than in any other state.  Additionally, teachers have faced financial hardships due to reduced pay.  Parents, teachers, and students agree that furlough days would be better spent in the classroom.  However, the Code of Ethics prevents teachers from providing paid services to students on furlough days.  Your Committee finds that in light of the special circumstances faced by the State, this exception to the Code of Ethics can provide a solution to the problem of students missing classroom days.  Your Committee fully supports a free education for all students, but in these difficult times, students need this opportunity to maintain their educational momentum. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2873 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair