CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 980

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 980, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to define, for the purpose of compulsory education, a private school to be an education institution that teaches kindergarten through grade twelve and that is licensed or accredited by specified licensing or accrediting organizations.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Hawaii Council of Private Schools is the licensing entity that ensures that all of Hawaii's private and parochial schools are healthy, safe, and sustainable institutions of learning for Hawaii's children. However, licensing requirements for private schools in the State are optional, rather than mandatory. This measure clarifies the definition of "private school" to assure parents who send their child to a private school that the school meets certain standards and criteria in providing a safe learning environment.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2020.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 980, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 980, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair