STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3001

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2937

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2937 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACCESS TO LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the sunset date for the exemption of laboratory school programs of the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from state English-medium standards, assessments, performance ratings, staff qualifications, and staff training requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Executive Office on Early Learning, Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!, Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, and nineteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, or the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, is recognized worldwide as being the leader in indigenous education. This measure will address the shortage of Hawaiian-proficient certified teachers for state and charter elementary Hawaiian language programs and ensure the continuation of a laboratory school program, which is currently a Hawaiian-medium program, at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2937, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2937, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair