STAND. COM. REP. NO. 917

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 225

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 225, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BULLYING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Board of Education to develop a bullying prevention and response action plan;

(2) Require the Board of Education, or the Department of Education as the Board of Education's designee, to submit an annual report to the Legislature on the bullying prevention and response action plan and reported incidents of alleged bullying and harassment; and

(3) Repeal Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011, which required the Board of Education to monitor the Department of Education for compliance with any administrative rules or statutes governing bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Rainbow Family 808, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Board of Education.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 225, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair