STAND. COM. REP. NO. 28-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1560

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1560 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the minimum qualification for Board of Education members to diversify the experience of Board members and clarify that the Board's best practices should be aligned with those of organizations such as the National Association of State Boards of Education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from HawaiiKidsCAN and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Board of Education serves the important role of formulating the educational policy for Hawaii's education system. As schools expand their career readiness programs and partnerships with employers to meet the needs of the local and global workforce and community, the Board will need to have a sophisticated understanding of policy related to a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Your Committee believes that having members with diverse backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives on the Board of Education will be of great benefit to Hawaii's education system and will better prepare students for their future.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that nominees shall have relevant experience so that collectively, the Board of Education shall have knowledge, experience, and proven expertise in education, workforce development, critical industries to the State, emerging fields, energy, advanced manufacturing, health care, business, technology, entrepreneurship, real estate finance, or organization management;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

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

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. 1560, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1560, 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