STAND. COM. REP. NO.  91

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1530

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1530 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage college students to become educators and educational assistants and to ensure that these graduates work in our public schools by:

 

     (1)  Establishing the Educator and Educational Assistant Loan      Forgiveness Program to provide financial support to:

 

          (a)  Teachers who complete a state-approved teacher                 education program; and

 

          (b)  Educational assistants who complete a state-                        approved educational assistant certification                   training program,

 

          and agree to teach in the Hawaii public school system at      a school located in a rural area; and

 

     (2)  Establishing the Hawaii Educational Assistant Loan             Program to provide financial support to students who               complete a state-approved educational assistant                    certification training program and agree to serve as an        educational assistant in the Hawaii public school             system.

 

     The University of Hawaii and Department of Education (DOE) supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committees note that DOE has suggested amendments to the bill, and respectfully request that the Committee on Finance incorporate the amendments, as follows:

 

     (1)  Require a financial institution within the state, rather      than DOE itself, to administer the Educator and                    Educational Assistant Loan Forgiveness Program and to              work in partnership with DOE to ensure a fair selection        process; and

 

     (2)  Verify the program that educational assistants must            complete, since a state-approved educational assistant         certification training program does not exist.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1530 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair

 

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair