STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1730

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.R. No. 76

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 76 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONTRACT WITH A QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO ESTABLISH AN AQUATIC SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to contract with a qualified nonprofit organization to establish an aquatic safety education program for elementary school students.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Aquatics Foundation and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that drowning was the leading cause of injury‑related mortality for Hawaii's children between 2014 and 2018, with more children dying by drowning than in motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents combined, and an alarmingly large proportion of those child drownings being among resident children. Your Committee believes that many drowning deaths can be prevented through aquatic safety education programs.

Your Committee recognizes that establishing aquatic safety education programs for all elementary school students will require additional personnel and resources to support the management and execution of a contract with a nonprofit organization. However, your Committee notes that the Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area, Kapaa-Kauai-Waimea Complex Area, and Honokaa‑Kealakehe‑Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area are interested in conducting aquatic safety education programs at this time and have established relationships with a qualified nonprofit organization to establish the programs.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Education to contract with a qualified nonprofit organization to establish aquatic safety education programs in schools that wish to participate and for which funding is available;

(2) Requesting the Department of Education to conduct a statewide needs assessment in preparation for establishing an aquatic safety education program in all Department of Education elementary schools to be contracted with one or more qualified nonprofit organizations during regular school hours; and

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose.

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 H.R. No. 76, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 76, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair