HB 1202: RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-627, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-627  [Credit] Salary ratings of entering or reentering teachers; credit for military service.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any teacher with more than one year of teaching experience, licensed by the Hawaii teacher standards board, and who is entering or reentering the service of the department shall have the teacher's salary rating, as determined by the personnel executive of the department, that is equal to the salary ratings held by an incumbent teacher in the department with identical number of years of experience.  The department shall recognize prior teaching experience, whether in the State or otherwise, at an equivalent rate to incumbent teachers employed by the department.  The department shall not limit the number of years of prior teaching experience to be recognized under this subsection.

     (b)  Any teacher who served on active duty with the armed forces of the United States shall be given credit by the department for the teacher's military service in the determination of the teacher's salary, the teacher's eligibility for leaves of absence, and for all other purposes of seniority.  Both reentering and entering teachers shall have each year of their military service or six months thereof credited as a year of teaching experience; provided that no more than four years of credit for military service shall be allowed.  Evidence of military service shall be by certificate."

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  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DOE; Teacher Compensation; Salary Ratings; Teacher Retention

Description:

Recognizes prior teaching experience at an equal salary rating for teachers entering or reentering into the service of the Department of Education.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-627, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-627  Salary ratings of entering or reentering teachers; [Credit] credit for military service.  (a)  Any teacher with more than one year of teaching experience, and so accredited by the department, entering or reentering the service of the department shall have the teacher's salary rating determined by the personnel executive of the department, any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, so that the salary rating shall be equal to the salary ratings held by incumbent teachers in the department with the identical number of years of experience.  The department shall recognize prior teaching experience, whether in the State or otherwise, at an equivalent rate to incumbent teachers in the department.  The department shall not limit the number of years of prior teaching experience that will be recognized under this paragraph.

     (b)  Any teacher who served on active duty with the armed forces of the United States shall be given credit by the department for the teacher's military service in the determination of the teacher's salary, the teacher's eligibility for leaves of absence, and for all other purposes of seniority.  Both reentering and entering teachers shall have each year of their military service or six months thereof credited as a year of teaching experience; provided that no more than four years of credit for military service shall be allowed.  Evidence of military service shall be by certificate."

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

DOE; Teacher Compensation; Salary Ratings; Teacher Retention

Description:

Promotes teacher retention by recognizing prior teaching experience at an equal salary rating for entering or reentering teachers into the Department of Education.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  189

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1202

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1202 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to recognize prior teaching experience at an equal salary comparable to currently hired teachers of identical years of experience for newly hired teachers or teachers reentering the service of the Department of Education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kūlia Academy and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that this measure is a crucial step in addressing teacher shortages and ensuring that public schools in the State can offer competitive compensation to attract and retain top teaching talent.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1202, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1202, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,