Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 11, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii State Student Council, with student representatives from each departmental school district, and to require the council to conduct an annual conference of secondary school students.

For the purposes of a public hearing, your Committee circulated a proposed S.D. 1 version that replaced its contents with the contents of S.B. No. 521, which would establish an education research and development revolving fund to be funded by revenues from the commercial exploitation of products and services developed by the Department of Education. Your Committee also supports of the original provisions of H.B. No. 11, H.D. 2 and would like to note that the Senate companion, S.B. No. 670, S.D. 1, crossed over to the House of Representatives on March 6, 2001, in Senate Communications 137.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the proposed measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education has long requested schools and school programs to raise funds on their own. It is only proper that the department be authorized to practice what it preaches. Allowing the department the chance to seize private sector entrepreneurial opportunities will also leverage scarce public resources. Your Committee notes that the department will need to develop policies regarding intellectual property.

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. 11, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 11, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.