STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1136-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2293

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2293, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HARM TO STUDENTS REGISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the scope of the Department of Education's harm to students registry by exempting K-12 students from the registry and by specifying that contractors and volunteers are included only when their roles involve interaction with students.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Your Committee finds that Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, required the Department of Education to establish a harm to students registry, but the existing statutory language created uncertainty regarding which individuals must be included. Your Committee further finds that including contractors or volunteers with no student contact, or allowing the possibility of K-12 students being listed, imposes unnecessary administrative burdens and contradicts the purpose of the registry as a safety tool for student protection. This measure will ensure that the system remains focused, efficient, and effective in safeguarding students statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2293, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2293, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair