Report Title:

Board of Education; Salaries

 

Description:

Provides salaries for the board of education.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

163

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO BOARD OF EDUCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the board of education is the policy-making body for the public school system and plays a vital and critical role in shaping the education of the children of Hawaii.  The board of education faces many complex and difficult challenges and issues that require knowledgeable, educated, and experienced policy makers.  Thus, in order to provide a quality public educational system that is second to none, the State must be willing to adequately compensate board members to ensure the quality, professionalism, and integrity of the board.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide salaries for board of education members.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-A  Salaries.  Elected members of the board of education shall receive:

     (1)  An annual salary paid:

         (A)  From the revenues of the general fund; and

         (B)  In equal amounts, beginning with the first pay period for state employees in November of the year the member of the board is elected; unless otherwise provided in this section.

          Effective July 1, 2009, the salary of the chairperson of the board shall be $37,000 a year, and the salary of the other members of the board shall be $32,000 a year.  Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, all members of the board shall be included in any benefit program generally applicable to officers and employees of the State;

     (2)  Transportation fare between islands to attend board meetings if a member resides on an island other than the island where the meeting is held; and

     (3)  A protocol allowance to cover expenses incurred in the course of a member's duties and responsibilities.

     §302A-B  Salary commission; established.  (a)  There is established a salary commission for the members of the board of education.  The salary commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor, pursuant to section 26-34, on or before August 31, 2009, and every four years thereafter.  The members shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses while in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.

     (b)  Before the twentieth legislative day of the regular session of 2010 and every four years thereafter, the salary commission shall study and make recommendations for the salary of the members of the board and submit the study to the legislature, and then shall be dissolved.  The recommended salaries, if any, shall be effective as of the date of the recommendations, unless the legislature disapproves the recommendations by adoption of a concurrent resolution prior to adjournment sine die of the legislative session in which the recommendations are submitted."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-1105, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§302A-1105  Compensation; expenses.  Board of education members shall be allowed:

     (1)  Compensation at the rate of $100 per day for each day's actual attendance at meetings;

     (2)  Transportation fares between islands and abroad; and

     (3)  Personal expenses at the rates specified by the board while attending board meetings or while on official business as authorized by the chairperson, when the board meetings or official business require a board member to leave the island upon which the board member resides."]

SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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