Joan Kamila Lewis, Teacher Lobbyist

Aloha Colleagues,

Your Lobbying Team provided testimony on HB759 relating to air conditioning in public school facilities.  Teachers support funding to provide safe and healthy teaching and learning environments.

The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP) recommended that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) C. Lee, Lowen, Cullen, Evans, Nishimoto, Say, Yamane, Pouha, Thielen; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ing.  Thank you to the EEP for their support.
 
Mahalo to the legislators that introduced the bill: Rep. Ty J.K. Cullen, Rep. Henry J.C. Aquino, Rep. Sharon E. Har, and Rep. Ryan Yamane.

Per our HSTA Convention New Business Items, we are testifying our support on a number of bullying bills such as SB865 and HB819.

 

Another important bill that we are monitoring is HB14.  Many HSTA members took the time to respond to our Lobbying Team e-mail by sending in testimony on HB14. Thank you for sharing your personal stories regarding student instructional minutes.  HSTA also provided testimony.  This bill falls under HSTA's 2015 Legislative Priorities.  Watch Joan's testimony HERE.

CLICK HERE to review HSTA Legislative Priorities

About HSTA Legislative Priorities
Members were asked to respond to a legislative priorities survey.  Member responses helped the teachers on the Government Relations Committee formulate legislative priorities that were recommended to the Board of Directors for approval. Teachers from every chapter voluntarily serve on the HSTA Government Relations Committee and the Board of Directors.

HSTA Lobbying Team
Joan Kamila Lewis
Teacher Lobbyist
Kendra Ito-Mizota
Government Relations Specialist
Wil Okabe
President
Wilbert Holck
Executive Director