STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1252

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 1041

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require teachers to receive their normal annual increment or longevity increase, as the case may be, for a year's satisfactory service in any fiscal year that an increase in the appropriate salary schedule is effected, except as provided by law.

Your Committees heard testimony in support of the measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Your Committees heard testimony in opposition to the measure from the Department of Budget and Finance. Comments were provided by the Department of Education.

Your Committees find that the lack of annual increment increases has contributed to Hawaii's teacher shortage. Providing teachers with annual increment increases will help encourage them to remain in the profession.

Your Committees note that, although the bill contains general language for "normal annual increment or longevity increase," it is not your Committees' intent that the increments and longevity increases under this measure be at a specified level currently reflected in the salary schedule in the July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1999, agreement between the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the State of Hawaii. Recognizing that contract talks are currently stalled primarily due to the State's position of inability to pay, granting automatic increases at specified levels may not be fiscally prudent. Accordingly, your Committees recommend that the Committee on Ways and Means consider inserting a specific percentage for the increments and longevity increases that realistically can be achieved within the State's financial plan and still serve as an incentive to retain good teachers.

Your Committees have amended the measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2003.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BOB NAKATA, Chair

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair