STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2205

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

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




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2475 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 prohibit discrimination in
athletics, on the basis of sex, in any public school.

     In addition, this bill requires the superintendent of
education to develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure
equity in sports participation.  This bill also requires the
establishment of an advisory commission on gender equity in
sports to determine compliance with federal law.

     Testimony in favor of the measure was received from the
Department of Education, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of
Women, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii State Teachers
Association, and three individuals.

     Hawaii does not have state provisions requiring the
Department of Education to comply with the federal gender equity
provisions of Public Law 92-318, Title IX, of the federal
Education Amendments of 1972, which bars sex discrimination in
education, including school athletics.  Vast disparities between
boys and girls athletics are evident in areas such as athletic
budgets, coaching staff, athletic directors, and access to and
use of athletic facilities.  This bill address these disparities
by establishing provisions providing for the framework within

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2205
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which the Department of Education shall provide gender equity in
sports for school athletics and comply with Title IX.

     Your Committee amended the bill to require a two-year rather
than three-year period to implement the recommendations of the
Department of Education's strategic plan on gender equity.  Your
Committee also made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
clarity and consistency.

     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. 2475, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2475,
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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