Bill > HB961

This bill establishes a two-year Librarian Pilot Program aimed at addressing the significant lack of librarian support in Hawaii's public schools, where only 75 out of 258 schools currently have a full-time or part-time librarian. The program will create two full-time equivalent (FTE) certified librarian positions - one for a school complex on Oahu and another for a school complex on a neighbor island - to provide rotating support services. The Department of Education will select the specific school complexes and will be required to submit reports to the legislature before the 2026 and 2027 legislative sessions, including findings, recommendations, and an assessment of whether the pilot program should be extended. The bill appropriates $132,308 for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years, with $66,154 allocated to each librarian position. These positions will be twelve-month, state office-level teacher positions specifically filled by certified librarians. The pilot program is set to run from July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2027, after which it will cease to exist unless further legislative action is taken to extend or modify the program.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=961&year=2025