STAND. COM. REP. NO. 129

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 388

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 388 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to:

(1) Upon request by a parent or guardian of a vulnerable student or a student who has exhibited behavioral issues, provide a clinical or psychoeducational evaluation; and

(2) Provide an assessment for suspended students to identify and provide services for any social disorder, emotional disorder, or learning difference.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that children living in poverty who have one or more parents incarcerated, are the victims of abuse or neglect, or are homeless often experience a range of traumatic and toxic stress. This stress can harm the child's brain development and physical, social, mental, emotional, and behavioral health and well-being. Therefore, it is imperative that the Department of Education identify vulnerable students who are likely to drop out, assess their needs, and provide them with the services they need to succeed.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 388, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 388, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair