STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1724
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: S.C.R. No. 9
S.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 Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 9, S.D. 2, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONVENING A TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS IMPLEMENTATION OF HAWAII'S STATE LAW COROLLARY TO TITLE IX TO STRENGTHEN HAWAII'S EFFORTS TO END CAMPUS-BASED SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose of this measure is to convene a task
force to address implementation of Hawaii's state law corollary to Title IX to
strengthen Hawaii's efforts to end campus-based sexual violence and gender discrimination.
Your
Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of
Education, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates,
Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, American Association
of University Women of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Democratic Party of
Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Imua Alliance, The Every Voice Coalition, and four
individuals. Your Committee received testimony
in support of the intent of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.
Your
Committee finds that, under the previous United States presidential
administration, several changes were proposed to Title IX of the federal
Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any
school that receives federal money.
These changes include reducing the number of complaints involving sexual
harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct that currently fall within the
purview of Title IX and limit the scope of educational institutions' liability
for complaints of sexual harassment.
Your Committee further finds that, in
response to the intended policy changes to Title IX of the federal Education
Amendments of 1972 by the previous United States presidential administration,
the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, Act 110, Session Laws
of Hawaii 2018, which established a state law corollary to Title IX that
prohibits sex-based discrimination in state-administered or state-funded
educational programs or activities, including discrimination based on sexual
orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Your Committee believes that the convening of
a task force is needed to address any potential conflicts between Hawaii's
state law corollary and any recent or future changes to the Title IX
regulations to strengthen the State's efforts to end campus-based sexual
violence and gender discrimination.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 9, S.D. 2, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |