STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1409-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2722
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 2




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No.
2722, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION
     PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish and implement an
Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (Program) within the
Department of Education (DOE).

     The Hawaii State Teachers Association, the representative of
the 7th District, and several individuals supported this bill.
DOE and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the intent of
this bill.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
bill by:

     (1)  Making the establishment of a Hawaiian Language
          Immersion Program discretionary rather than mandatory;
          and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee recognizes that the current success of  the
Program is due to the dedication and support of the parents.

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1409-00
                                 Page 2

 
Your Committee also urges the Board of Education and the
Department of Education to support this Program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2722, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2722,
S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair