STAND. COM. REP. NO. 151

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 185
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred S.B. No. 185 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish in statute the
Hawaii State Student Council with student representatives from
each departmental school district.  

     This measure also requires the council to conduct an annual
conference of secondary schools, and requires the council to
determine whether to select the student member of the Board of
Education or to run an election to select the individual.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Hawaii Congress of
Parents, Teachers, and Students.  Testimony in support of the
intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of
Education.

     Your Committee believes that not only are students the
beneficiaries of our public education system, but they should
also be central in helping to form the policies and procedures
for improving our schools.  The inclusion of the Hawaii State
Student Council in statute will ensure its longevity and
equitable student participation in school based decision making.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 151
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     The Department of Education has expressed concern regarding
the implications of statutorily requiring that the Department
assign staff to act as advisors to both the Hawaii State Student
Council and the Hawaii State Student Council Conference
Committee.  Because a Department of Education staff member
currently assists the Hawaii State Student Council, your
Committee agrees with the Department's testimony that it is not
necessary to legislate staffing requirements.  Furthermore, this
will allow the Department some flexibility in resource management
in the case of funding cuts or a change in budget priorities.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure to
delete the staffing provisions, and made technical,
nonsubstantive amendments for clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education and Technology that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 185, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 185,
S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
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