STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1234

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.R. No. 69

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.R. No. 69 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, TO PREPARE A STUDY THAT EXAMINES AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVING THE RETENTION OF TEACHERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve teacher retention within the Department of Education.

 

Specifically, this measure requests the Legislative Reference Bureau:

 

     (1)  In consultation with the Department of Education and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education, to prepare a study that examines and provides recommendations on improving the retention of teachers within the Department of Education; and

 

     (2)  Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers' Association and one individual.  The Legislative Reference Bureau, Department of Education, and one individual commented on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the systemic shortage of public school teachers within the Department of Education is exacerbated by multiple factors, including the limited pool of qualified applicants to recruit and the subsequent administrative challenge of retaining teachers once employed.  Your Committee believes that the study requested by this measure will provide information and recommendations necessary to improve retention of highly qualified teachers in public schools, which is critical to achieving long-standing educational goals and meeting academic standards set by the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Education to provide certain information to the Legislative Reference Bureau by July 31, 2015;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct the study based upon information received from the Department of Education;

 

     (3)  Requesting the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education and the Department of Education to cooperate with the Legislative Reference Bureau and provide any information the Bureau may require to complete its report in the timeframe established; and

 

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 69, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committees on Education and Higher Education in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 69, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair