Bill > HB1346

This bill addresses the critical issue of teacher retention and compensation in Hawaii by establishing automatic annual salary step increases for public school teachers who have completed a year of satisfactory service. The legislation recognizes that Hawaii's teacher salaries are the lowest in the nation when adjusted for cost of living, with an average starting salary of only $24,409, and highlights a significant retention problem where nearly 71% of teachers are leaving within five years. The bill specifically amends the Hawaii Revised Statutes to provide teachers with two types of salary increases: (1) an annual increment for teachers who have completed a year of satisfactory service and met specific professional requirements, and (2) longevity step increases for teachers who have served satisfactorily for three years at their maximum increment step, both of which are subject to the availability of funds and negotiated through the collective bargaining agreement for Bargaining Unit (5). By implementing these automatic salary increases, the bill aims to support current teachers, improve job satisfaction, and help address the state's ongoing challenges with teacher recruitment and retention.

Education, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1346&year=2025