STAND. COM. REP. NO. 72-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1988

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1988 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the requirement that the Board of Education release from school attendance students observing holy days to include the observation of other religious practices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that pursuant to section 302A-1140, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Board of Education is required to excuse any student absence due to the student's observation of a religious holy day. However, students may also miss school because of the observation of other religious practices. Your Committee further finds that an absence caused by the observation of other religious practices should not be considered an absence of any kind and should not prevent an otherwise eligible student from receiving perfect attendance.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1988, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1988, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair