Bill Text: HI SB3089 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-07 - Referred to LGO/EDN, JHA, referral sheet 16 [SB3089 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB3089-Amended.html
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3089 |
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature recognizes that it is essential to rectify this dangerous loophole. It is unacceptable for teachers accused of serious misconduct to evade accountability by relocating to different jurisdictions or institutions. Requiring the revocation of these teachers' teaching licenses ensures that their names are added to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification database, which maintains an interstate agreement with the Hawaii teacher standards board. This, in turn, will ensure that potential employers are aware of the unlicensed status of these teachers, making it significantly more challenging for these teachers to secure employment in any educational setting. This Act is a necessary step to preserve the integrity of the teaching profession and protect students from potential harm, and thus uphold ethical standards and accountability within the education system.
SECTION 2. Section 302A-602, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§302A-602
Teachers; licenses and certificates.
(a) No person shall serve as a
teacher in the department without first having obtained a license from the
Hawaii teacher standards board in [such] the form as the Hawaii
teacher standards board determines. The
department shall establish types of certificates in the educational field and
the requirements to qualify for those certificates issued to individuals who are
not required to obtain a license pursuant to sections 302A-801 to 302A-808.
(b) Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, no
person paid
under the salary schedule contained in the unit 5 collective bargaining
agreement shall serve as a teacher in the department without first having
obtained a license pursuant to sections 302A-801 to 302A-808 from the Hawaii
teacher standards board in [such] the form as the Hawaii teacher
standards board determines.
(c) Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the
department may employ unlicensed individuals as emergency hires pursuant to
sections 302A-801 to 302A-808.
(d) Any person paid
under the salary schedule contained in the unit 5 collective bargaining
agreement shall have the person's license revoked by the Hawaii teacher standards
board if the person resigns or retires during the pendency of any investigation
into allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other physical abuse
of a student, including criminal and workplace investigations.
(e) Any individual who retires or resigns from
teaching before the completion of any investigation into allegations of sexual
assault, sexual harassment, or other physical abuse of a student, shall
surrender their Hawaii teaching license and the Hawaii teacher standards board
shall report the surrender to the National Association of State Directors of
Teacher Education and Certification."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on April 14, 2112.
Report Title:
Department of Education; HTSB; License Revocation
Description:
Requires that licensed teachers have their license revoked by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board if the teacher is resigning or retiring during the pendency of any investigation into allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other physical abuse of a student. Requires a licensed teacher to surrender their license if the teacher retires or resigns from teaching before the completion of an investigation. Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to report the surrendered license to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. Takes effect 4/14/2112. (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.