CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 89-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2010

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2346

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam and Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD,"

 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to delegate to its Executive Director, or other designee, any of its powers and duties as it deems reasonable and proper; provided that certain discretionary functions are not delegated.

 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that in 2009, the Auditor submitted to the Legislature the findings of an audit on the appropriate accountability structure of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, examining specifically whether the Board effectively executed its core function of licensing and re-licensing.  The Auditor's report (Report No. 09‑05) found several problems with the Board, including ineffective management of its licensing functions, lack of oversight, and miscommunication between the Board and the Department of Education.  This measure attempts to address some of the concerns expressed in the Auditor's report.

 

     Upon receipt of the Auditor's report, the Legislature requested the Legislative Reference Bureau, University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education, and Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to respond to the Auditor's report, and these agencies submitted reports for review by the Legislature.

 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the recommendations made by the state agencies are useful in clarifying the respective roles, responsibilities, and relationship between the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and the Department of Education; improving teacher licensing and re-licensing processes and fees; and improving the overall operations and impact of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.  Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by incorporating the recommendations, as follows:

 

     (1)  By requiring the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to include expenditure information in its annual report;

 

     (2)  By adding additional licensure renewal requirements and verification of meeting licensure renewal requirements;

 

     (3)  By requiring the Board to review the implementation of revised license fee collections and determine if fees shall be raised;

 

     (4)  By requiring the Board to develop a comprehensive plan for transferring nonessential functions and duties to other agencies;

 

     (5)  By requiring the Board to review its teacher license renewal process;

 

     (6)  By requiring the Board and the Department of Education to clarify their respective powers, duties, responsibilities, and the relationship between the two agencies; and

 

     (7)  By making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Co-Chair

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair