STAND. COM. REP. NO.  65

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 891

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 891 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support kindergarten through twelfth-grade teachers at public and private schools in Hawaii by providing a non-refundable tax credit of up to $500 per taxable year for expenses incurred by teachers for books, supplies, computer equipment, supplementary materials used in classrooms, and professional-development courses.

 

     The Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus supported this measure.  The Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the definition of "qualifying taxpayer" to require that the individual, including a prekindergarten teacher, be employed for at least 900 hours during a school year to qualify for the tax credit;

 

     (2)  Applying the tax credit to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019;

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 891, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 891, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair