STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1219

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 546

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 546, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the composition of the Early Learning Board to make a representative from Aha Punana Leo a standing member.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kaulanakilohana, and one individual.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the contents of the measure and inserts language to:

(1) Require complex area superintendents to report directly to the Superintendent of Education;

(2) Authorize various positions to report directly to complex area superintendents; and

(3) Make appropriations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Associations, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that currently, the complex area superintendents report to the Deputy Superintendent of Education. There is concern that the Superintendent of Education does not consistently communicate with or hear all feedback from all the complex area superintendents. This measure will streamline communication between the complex superintendents and the Superintendent of Education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adopting the proposed S.D. 1; and

(2) 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 H.B. No. 546, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 546, H.D. 2, 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