The Senate Committee on Education voted to advance SB 440 with amendments after hearing from the Department of Education, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), the Attorney General and other stakeholders.

SB 440 would establish a scholarship program and special fund to recruit and retain career and technical education (CTE) teachers in Hawaii public schools. The department said it supports the bill’s intent but will need more analysis and resources to implement aspects such as staffing and reporting.

Thomas Chalk from DBEDT suggested strengthening the bill by adding work-based elements such as externships, clarifying mentorship and professional development, and expanding eligibility beyond the University of Hawaii to include other local institutions and Hawai‘i residents who study out-of-state. The department of attorney general recommended an amendment requiring scholarship recipients to obtain a teaching license after completing the state-approved teacher education program.

A Budget and Finance representative raised statutory requirements for special funds and questioned whether the proposed special fund met criteria in section 37-52-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including a demonstrated nexus between beneficiaries and funding sources and the fund’s capacity to be financially self-sustaining.

The committee’s recommendation to pass SB 440 includes technical and non-substantive amendments, insertion of Attorney General language regarding licensure, and a committee report notation that $600,000 was requested by DOE; the appropriation amount was blanked and the effective date was defected to July 1, 2015 in committee paperwork. The committee recorded the recommendation (4 ayes, 1 excused).