Report Title:

Education; Licensure; Teacher Incentives

Description:

Directs licensing board to allow principals to determine certification compliance on a case by case basis. Amends incentive packages to allow student loan assistance. Appropriates funds for bonuses to deter teacher turnover in shortage areas and hard to staff schools.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2028

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart D, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Licensing exception. Notwithstanding any provision in this subpart to the contrary, the board shall allow principals in the public school system in areas with a department-identified teacher shortage or hard to staff schools, including but not limited to Kamaile elementary, Leihoku elementary, Maili elementary, Makaha elementary, Nanaikapono elementary, Nanakuli elementary, Nanakuli intermediate, Nanakuli high, Waianae elementary, Waianae intermediate, Waianae high, and Ka Waihona o ka Naauao PC, to apply licensing standards on a case-by-case basis to determine whether licensing standards have been met for purposes of teaching only at that principal's school."

SECTION 2. Section 302A-701, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-701 Incentive packages for quality teachers, principals, and vice-principals. (a) Teachers, principals, and vice-principals in the public school system may accept incentive packages provided by local communities for the purpose of retaining those teachers, principals, and vice-principals in schools with high teacher, principal, or vice-principal turnover[.], including but not limited to Kamaile elementary, Leihoku elementary, Maili elementary, Makaha elementary, Nanaikapono elementary, Nanakuli elementary, Nanakuli intermediate, Nanakuli high, Waianae elementary, Waianae intermediate, Waianae high, and Ka Waihona o ka Naauao PC. Packages may include such items as:

(1) Provision of housing;

(2) Provision of mileage reimbursement;

(3) Provision of discounts at local businesses; [and]

(4) Other items not covered by chapter 89, and agreed upon by the community[.]; and

(5) Provision for student loan assistance.

(b) Teachers employed in department-identified shortage areas or hard to staff schools, including but not limited to Kamaile elementary, Leihoku elementary, Maili elementary, Makaha elementary, Nanaikapono elementary, Nanakuli elementary, Nanakuli intermediate, Nanakuli high, Waianae elementary, Waianae intermediate, Waianae high, and Ka Waihona o ka Naauao PC, after the effective date of this section may receive a bonus; provided that:

(1) The bonus shall not exceed one month's salary computed at the first step of the appropriate class of the teachers' salary schedule;

(2) The unpaid balance of the bonus shall be deemed forfeited and disposed of by rule if the teacher's contract is terminated prior to the total payment of the bonus, which may be prorated over a period of not more than two years;

(3) The bonus shall not be used to compute payments for overtime work, workers' compensation benefits, or retirement benefits;

(4) A teacher who accepts a bonus shall remain at the teacher's assigned school or in the teacher's assigned departmental school district for not less than two complete school years unless:

(A) The teacher is a probationary teacher and is displaced by a tenured teacher;

(B) The teacher's position at the school is abolished and the teacher is unable to find comparable employment in the teacher's assigned departmental school district; or

(C) The teacher's contract is terminated; and

(5) A teacher who has accepted a bonus shall not be eligible to receive another bonus under this section for five years from the acceptance of the bonus.

In the event of a conflict between this subsection and any other law or rule, including, but not limited to, chapter 89, this subsection shall control."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide bonuses as a means of encouraging teachers to maintain employment in department of education-identified shortage areas or hard to staff schools.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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