STAND. COM. REP. NO. 472

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1222

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1222 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve digital literacy throughout Hawaii by:

(1) Requiring public schools and public charter schools to offer education in computer science; and

(2) Establishing the Computer Science Education Special Fund to provide grants to support computer science education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Code.org; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; HawaiiKidsCAN; Microsoft; Purple Maia Foundation; Hawai‘i Society for Technology in Education; TechNet; and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission and Microsoft. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the global COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated a need to diversify Hawaii's economy beyond tourism and has shown the importance of digital literacy, particularly as applied to distance learning, tele-health appointments, and working from home. Your Committee further finds that computer science education is a key driver of economic growth and digital literacy. Your Committee believes this measure will further promote computer science education in the State and prepare students for fields related to computer science that have the potential to drive job growth and innovation throughout the economy.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "computer science";

(2) Removing highest academic degree of instructors from the categories to be reported to the Superintendent of Education;

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

(4) 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1222, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1222, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair