STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2102-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 216

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 S.C.R. No. 216 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSESS AND REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT EXISTING CURRICULUM AND TRAINING ALIGN WITH ERIN'S LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to assess whether and to what extent the Department's existing child sexual abuse curriculum and training programs align with Erin's Law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Youth Services Network, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Hawaii, and Parents And Children Together.

Your Committee finds that Erin's Law is an Illinois state law that has been adopted in many other states. Your Committee further finds that states that have adopted Erin's Law require public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program that teaches age appropriate techniques for children to recognize sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult. Your Committee additionally finds that the Department of Education currently provides curricula and training programs related to preventing, recognizing, and responding to instances of child sexual abuse. Your Committee believes that an assessment of whether and to what extent the Department of Education's existing curricula and training programs align with the provisions of Erin's Law will illuminate whether further action is necessary to ensure the safety of children in Hawaii's public schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the requested assessment is in comparison to the provisions of Erin's Law, rather than the requirements of Erin's Law; and

(2) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 216, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 216, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair