HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

462

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the state librarian's salary.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that existing law authorizes the board of education to set the salary of the state librarian, but the salary cannot exceed a specific amount, also referred to as a salary cap.

     The legislature further finds that it is a challenge to recruit and fill this state leadership position because the statutory salary cap is not in alignment with national salary norms and, therefore, is not competitive with or in the range of the salaries of other similar administrative leadership positions at comparable library systems.

     The legislature further finds that the statute governing the state librarian's salary has not been amended since 2001, and the salary cap should be revised as a matter of equity, to account for the cost of living increases.

     Amending the current salary cap for the state librarian was based on a review of the salaries of library directors with comparable budgets, population sizes, and number of employees across the country.  Salaries of similar positions in other states support the change to a higher salary cap.  The state librarian is responsible for a statewide district, whereas most librarians are responsible for only a city or county.

     The amendment to the salary cap would also provide the board of education with more discretion in hiring, recruiting, and retaining the top librarian for Hawaii's public libraries.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide the board of education, as the appointing body of the state librarian, with more flexibility to establish the salary of the state librarian, by increasing the salary cap on the state librarian position.

     SECTION 2.  Section 312-2.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The salary of the state librarian shall be set by the board of education at a rate no greater than [$120,000] $200,000 a year."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Librarian Salary

 

Description:

Increases the salary cap on the state librarian position.

 

 

 

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