SB 1221 Summary

• Amends HRS §302A-803(d) to clarify that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board may delegate license approval authority to its Executive Director, while retaining non-delegable discretionary functions including rule-making and disciplinary actions against licensees.

• Modifies HRS §302A-804 to change "granting or denying" permits/licenses to only "denying" permits/licenses in the list of non-delegable board functions, allowing routine approvals to be delegated when they do not require the board's expertise and discretion.

• Requires the Hawaii Department of Education, Charter School Commission, and charter schools to report annually to the board the number of classrooms without a licensed teacher for a quarter or more of the school year.

• Simplifies charter school reporting requirements by removing the requirement to report individual progress toward licensing and consolidating emergency hire documentation into a single annual report to the board.

• Takes effect upon approval.