STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3362

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2971

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2971, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand online learning opportunities for students across the State, requiring the Department of Education to implement the recommendations of the Online Learning Task Force. 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that online learning provides a flexible, alternative learning environment to help meet the needs of all student learners.  The expanded use of online technology promises to increase the number of qualified teachers and to better reach our State's rural communities.  Implementing the recommendations of the task force also promises to promote the twenty-first century skills valued in professional careers. 

Your Committee notes that the Department of Education has advised that additional funding is not required to implement the recommendations of the Online Learning Task Force.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2013.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2971, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2971, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair