HB 2004: Department of Education; Librarian Pilot Program; Education; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending sections 2 and 3 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of education a [two-year] five-year pilot program for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) certified librarians to provide rotating support services to one school complex on Oahu and one school complex on a neighbor island.  The department of education shall determine which school complexes shall be part of the pilot program[.]; provided that if an appropriate school complex on a neighbor island cannot be identified, the department shall identify an additional school complex on the island of Oahu to be part of the pilot program.

     (b)  The department of education shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026 [and], 2027[.], 2028, 2029, and 2030.  Each report shall include findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, about the pilot project established pursuant to subsection (a).  The report submitted prior to the convening of the regular session of [2027] 2030 shall make a recommendation as to whether the pilot project should be extended.

     (c)  The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, [2027.] 2030.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $132,308 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) twelve-month state office-level teacher positions under the department of education for the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act; provided that the funds appropriated shall be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $66,154 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) twelve‑month state office-level teacher position, to be filled by a certified librarian, for a school complex on Oahu; and

     (2)  $66,154 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) twelve‑month state office-level teacher position, to be filled by a certified librarian, for a school complex on a neighbor island[.] or, if no appropriate school complex on a neighbor island can be identified, a school complex on Oahu.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act."

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the librarian pilot program established pursuant to Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     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:

Department of Education; Librarian Pilot Program; Education; Appropriation

Description:

Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030.  Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

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 EDUCATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending sections 2 and 3 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of education a [two-year] five-year pilot program for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) certified librarians to provide rotating support services to one school complex on Oahu and one school complex on a neighbor island.  The department of education shall determine which school complexes shall be part of the pilot program[.]; provided that if an appropriate school complex on a neighbor island cannot be identified, the department shall identify an additional school complex on the island of Oahu to be part of the pilot program.

     (b)  The department of education shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026 [and], 2027[.], 2028, 2029, and 2030.  Each report shall include findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, about the pilot project established pursuant to subsection (a).  The report submitted prior to the convening of the regular session of [2027] 2030 shall make a recommendation as to whether the pilot project should be extended.

     (c)  The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, [2027.] 2030.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $132,308 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) twelve-month state office-level teacher positions under the department of education for the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act; provided that the funds appropriated shall be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $66,154 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) twelve‑month state office-level teacher position, to be filled by a certified librarian, for a school complex on Oahu; and

     (2)  $66,154 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) twelve‑month state office-level teacher position, to be filled by a certified librarian, for a school complex on a neighbor island[.] or, if no appropriate school complex on a neighbor island can be identified, a school complex on Oahu.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Department of Education; Librarian Pilot Program; Education; Appropriation

Description:

Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030.  Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified.  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 education.

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

     SECTION 1.  Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending sections 2 and 3 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of education a [two-year] five-year pilot program for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) certified librarians to provide rotating support services to one school complex on Oahu and one school complex on a neighbor island.  The department of education shall determine which school complexes shall be part of the pilot program[.]; provided that if an appropriate school complex on a neighbor island cannot be identified, the department shall identify an additional school complex on the island of Oahu to be part of the pilot program.

     (b)  The department of education shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026 [and], 2027[.], 2028, 2029, and 2030.  Each report shall include findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, about the pilot project established pursuant to subsection (a).  The report submitted prior to the convening of the regular session of [2027] 2030 shall make a recommendation as to whether the pilot project should be extended.

     (c)  The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, [2027.] 2030.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $132,308 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) twelve-month state office-level teacher positions under the department of education for the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act; provided that the funds appropriated shall be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $66,154 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) twelve‑month state office-level teacher position, to be filled by a certified librarian, for a school complex on Oahu; and

     (2)  $66,154 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) twelve‑month state office-level teacher position, to be filled by a certified librarian, for a school complex on a neighbor island[.] or, if no appropriate school complex on a neighbor island can be identified, a school complex on Oahu.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Department of Education; Librarian Pilot Program; Education; Appropriation

Description:

Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030.  Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified.

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.  1038-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2004

      H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Extend the Librarian Pilot Program, which provides rotating support services to schools in one school complex on Oahu and one school complex on a neighbor island, to June 30, 2030; and

     (2)  Authorize the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on a neighbor island can be identified.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii State Public Library System; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; and six individuals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding an appropriation of an unspecified amount for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Librarian Pilot Program; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 2.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  518-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2004

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2004 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Extend the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030; and

     (2)  Authorize the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the Librarian Pilot Program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that school librarians are an invaluable resource for educational communities, serving students, faculty, and staff with a safe place to develop literacy skills, achieve reading fluency, and conduct research.  Extending the Librarian Pilot Program and giving the Department of Education more flexibility in determining participation in the Pilot Program will help bolster library services in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000.

     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. 2004, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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