STAND. COM. REP. NO. 160

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 690

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. 690 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 1, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO REQUIRE THAT THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BE THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose an amendment to article X, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution to require that the statewide public school system be thorough and efficient.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Education Caucus Representative for the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaii, and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education and Iron Workers Stabilization Fund. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that compared to other states, Hawaii is unique because the State, rather than the counties or local level jurisdictions, is responsible for public education. Your Committee further finds that the State is struggling to provide quality education to all keiki, as evidenced by a chronic teacher shortage, decaying school facilities, and the fact that Hawaii spends less total tax revenue on public education compared to other states in the nation. Your committee believes that this measure will strengthen the State Constitution and the state public education system by ensuring that public education is not only supported but also is "thorough and efficient."

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050.

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. 690, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 690, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair