HE‘E Update on Education Bills

 HB2200 HD1

RELATING TO STATE BUDGET

Adjusts and makes additional appropriations for fiscal biennium 2019-2021 to fund the operations of executive branch agencies and programs.

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan, Takayama excused (2).

Appropriates $25,000,000 on a non-recurring basis to fund teacher compensation as negotiated and executed between the Superintendent of education and Hawaii State Teachers Association Bargaining Unit 5 for an experimental modernization project pursuant to section 78-3.5, or special education, hard-to-staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs, or some combination thereof. (SD1)

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-20 10:00AM in conference room 211.

RELATING TO TAX

Provides an income tax exclusion for certain public school teachers who earn $60,000 or less per year, or households who earn $120,000 or less per year if only one person is a teacher. Defines eligible teachers as full-time school teachers, special education teachers, school librarians and school counselors employed by the DOE or a charter school. (SD1)

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, Harimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Riviere, Shimabukuro, Taniguchi, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) English, K. Kahele.

Authorizes the department of education to provide incentives to enhance the recruitment and retention of public school and public charter school teachers. (SD1)

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 9 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Riviere, Taniguchi, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 4 Excused: Senator(s) English, Harimoto, K. Kahele, Shimabukuro.

RELATING TO ACCESS TO LEARNING.
Requires the parents or guardians of public school kindergarten students to the disclose information on the child’s prior child care program or prekindergarten attendance, if any, for the purpose of determining areas with the highest need for prekindergarten and child care programs. Requires Department of Education to assess kindergarten students. Establishes the preschool open doors trust fund and requires annual reporting. Expands Preschool Open Doors Program eligibility from 4-year-old children to all children who are 3 to 4 years old or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year. Requires annual reporting regarding the revenues and expenditures of the early learning trust fund. Establishes program for Department of Human Services to award grants for preschools. Appropriates funds and authorizes positions for the preschool open doors program. Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to expand its information technology system for the purpose of managing information on prekindergarten attendance and child care need and to contract for and operate preschool and child care programs. Establishes the Early Learning Coordinator position within the Office of the Governor. Establishes the goal of providing all children who are 3 to 4 years old, or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year, with enrollment in a preschool program by the year 2030 and assigns that responsibility to the Early Learning Coordinator. Appropriates funds to the Imiloa Astronomy Center for building classrooms for Hawaiian language immersion pre-kindergarten programs. Appropriates funds for building early learning services classrooms on public library property. Appropriates funds. (HB2543 HD1 PROPOSED)

Proposed draft of Bill scheduled to be heard by LHE/FIN on Tuesday, 02-18-20 2:00PM in House conference room 309. Copy of proposed draft available at www.capitol.hawaii.gov. The notice has been corrected to properly reflect the description of the Proposed HD1.

Establishes the School Facilities Agency to be responsible for all public school development, planning, and construction, related to capital improvement projects assigned by the Legislature, Governor, or Board of Education. Places management of school impact fees with the agency. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-20 10:00AM in conference room 211.

RELATING TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, Harimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Riviere, Shimabukuro, Taniguchi, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) English, K. Kahele.

RELATING TO EDUCATION DATA

Requires the Department of Education to establish a standardized data collection process; collect and analyze data relating to, among other things, student discipline, seclusion, and restraint, school climate, and student achievement; and annually report certain information to the Board of Education, Legislature, and the public. (SD1)

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.