CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 130

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 242

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the computer science special fund until June 30,2026;

(2) Require that public and charter schools offer education in computer science; and

(3) Require the Department of Education to submit to the Board of Education and Legislature annual reports.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the economic disruption caused by the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has illustrated a need to diversify Hawaii's economy beyond tourism and has highlighted the importance of digital literacy. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the focus on computer science education as a key driver of both economic growth and digital literacy. A computer science job pipeline can help to diversify Hawaii's economy away from tourism and into cybersecurity, green energy, robotics, and other technology-based fields. This measure requires schools to offer education in computer science, which will provide students with a knowledge in technology so that they may capitalize on growing opportunities in the computer science industry in the future.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language that establishes the computer science special fund;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2021; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair