STAND. COM. REP. NO. 900-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2475
                                     S.D. 1
                                     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 S.B. No.
2475, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENDER EQUITY IN SPORTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure gender equity in high
school athletics by:

     (1)  Requiring high schools to create equal opportunity for
          both sexes in all sports offered;

     (2)  Requiring high schools to afford equal access to all
          sports-related facilities and equipment to both sexes;

     (3)  Requiring the Superintendent of Education to recommend
          rules to enforce gender equity and to develop a
          strategic plan; and 

     (4)  Establishing an Advisory Commission on Gender Equity in
          Sports to determine compliance with federal law.

     The Hawaii State Teachers Association, American Civil
Liberties Union of Hawaii, and an individual supported this bill.
The Department of Education and the Hawaii Civil Rights
Commission supported the intent of this bill.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 900-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee finds that Hawaii does not have state
provisions that require the Department of Education to comply
with Title IX of the federal Educational Amendments of 1972.
This bill will create a local framework for ensuring compliance
with federal mandates for gender equity in school athletics.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
bill by deleting its contents, and inserting substantial
provisions of H.B. No. 2857, H.D. 1, which was reported out from
your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
earlier this session.  H.B. 2857, H.D. 1, is substantively
identical to S.B. 2475, H.D. 1, except that it does not contain
the "remedies" provision.  Your Committee finds that this
provision is unnecessary as Title IX already provides an
administrative process by which to pursue equitable relief for
grievances related to gender equity.

     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 S.B. No.
2475, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2475, S.D.
1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and
Hawaiian Affairs.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair