RELATING TO EDUCATION.

HB2533

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2533

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO EDUCATION
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that teachers
play an essential role in supporting children and youth during their formative
years.
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However, stress caused by
excessive workloads and a lack of support have adversely affected teacher
retention across the nation.
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In the
aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, data has shown
that seventy‑eight per cent of public school teachers have considered
leaving their jobs due to these factors.
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Between the 2020 and 2024 academic years, about seventy-nine thousand
teachers in the United States left their jobs, with forty-four per cent leaving
teaching within their first five years of working in the field.

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Data has
also shown that a substantial amount of teacher‑related stress is
associated with assignments that have increased responsibilities that go beyond
the teacher's ordinary duties, including administrative tasks, long working
hours, and support for students' mental health.
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These impacts are persistent in Hawaii where, despite recent
improvements in teacher retention, education officials remain concerned about
long-term workforce stability.
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The
legislature further finds that other states, including California and New York,
have adopted measures that recognize these increased duties and have helped to improve
teacher retention.

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The
legislature recognizes that in Hawaii, educational officers, principals, and
vice principals with special responsibilities at special needs schools are
statutorily required to be provided additional benefits pursuant to section 302A-631,
Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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However,
teachers who similarly assume duties beyond their ordinary scope are not provided
with the same benefits.
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The legislature
finds that this inequity between teachers and educational officers must be addressed.

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The
legislature also recognizes the Hawaii supreme court's holding in
Clarabal
v. Department of Education
, 145 Hawaii 69 (2019), that the State is
required under Article X, section 4, of the state constitution to provide
children with reasonable access to a Hawaiian language immersion
education.
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Teachers who instruct in
Hawaiian language immersion must assume additional responsibilities, including
advanced language proficiency, culturally grounded curriculum development, and the
integration of traditional knowledge.
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The
legislature finds that teachers who assume these duties should similarly be
afforded additional benefits.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to promote parity between educational officers and
teachers by:

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(1)
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Requiring the department of education to
provide additional benefits to:

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(A)
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Teachers
with special assignments in which their duties and responsibilities are greater
than their ordinary duties and responsibilities;

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(B)
�
Teachers
in Hawaiian language medium education whose responsibilities are greater or
unique and require additional language skills; and

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(C)
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Teachers
at special needs schools; and

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(2)
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Appropriating moneys to the department of
education.

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SECTION
2
.
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Section 302A-630, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"
�302A-630
�

[
[
]Teachers; additional benefits or credits.[
]
]
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(a)
�

Teachers with special assignments, where their
duties and
responsibilities
are greater[
, may
]
than their ordinary duties and responsibilities,
shall
be provided additional benefits by the department.

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(b)
�
Teachers in Hawaiian language medium
education whose responsibilities are greater or unique and require additional
language skills [
may
]
shall
be provided additional benefits by
the department.

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(c)
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In determining additional benefits for
vocational agriculture and technical school teachers, the department may allow
credit for practical experience.

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(d)
�
In determining additional benefits for
teachers, staff, and administrators in Hawaiian language medium education, the
department may allow credit for practical experience.

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(e)
�
Teachers at special needs schools shall be
provided additional benefits by the department pursuant to section 302A‑624.
�
As used in this subsection, "special
needs schools" means those schools having a relatively large proportion of
students exhibiting low performance, as indicated by factors such as low
standardized achievement test scores, a high retention rate, and a low
graduation rate for the area.
"

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SECTION
3.
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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
provision of additional benefits to teachers pursuant to section 302A-630,
Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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

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SECTION 4.
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This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

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SECTION 5.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
Teachers; Additional Benefits or Credits; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the Department of Education to provide additional benefits to:
�
(1) teachers with special assignments where their
duties and responsibilities are greater than their ordinary duties and
responsibilities; (2) teachers in Hawaiian language medium education whose
responsibilities are greater or unique and require additional language skills;
and (3) teachers at special needs schools.
�

Appropriates moneys.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.