STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1617

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 235
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Health, to which was
referred H.C.R. No. 235 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO
     CONVENE AN INFORMAL AND TEMPORARY JOINT COMMITTEE COMPRISED
     OF MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
     EDUCATION TO JOINTLY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF PROVIDING
     OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE
     DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THEIR
     CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to provide
opportunities for employees to participate fully in the
development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for their
children with disabilities.

     Information Services testified in support of the measure.
The Department of Education (DOE) testified that it appreciates
the Legislature's efforts to enable employees to participate
fully in the development of IEPs for their children with
disabilities.

     Your Committees find that while 1990 Administrative
Directive No. 90-17 (Directive) currently exists to permit
parents who are state employees to attend school conferences,
there are many other parents who are not state employees and to
whom the Directive does not apply.  In addition, the development

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1617
                                 Page 2

 
of IEPs for children with disabilities normally requires more
time than the permissible administrative time off pursuant to the
Directive.

     Your Committees also find that the proposed joint committee,
to be composed of members of the business community and the DOE,
will be a useful vehicle to come to grips with the issues that
impede the necessary involvement of parents in the development of
IEPs.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Education and Health that are attached to this
report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of
H.C.R. No. 235, and recommend that it be referred to the
Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Education and
                                   Health,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair       KEN ITO, Chair