STAND. COM. REP. NO. 644-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2495
                                     H.D. 1
                                     



Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No.
2495 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the Board of Education
(Board) to set policies for progressive competencies in computer
technology and a language other than English without regard to
Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The Department of Education supported this bill.

     Your Committee finds that this bill affords the Board the
freedom to set competency requirements in computer technology and
foreign languages without being encumbered by Chapter 91
procedures.  Public testimony will still be accepted at Board
meetings, so the public will not be shut out of the policymaking
process.  This measure is also consistent with Administrative
Directive No. 99-01 that calls for all departments to reduce the
number of adminstrative rules when feasible.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical,
nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2495, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2495, H.D. 1, and
be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 644-00
                                 Page 2

 

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair