Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 179 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for computers in the public schools.

The Department of Education supported this bill. The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported the intent of this bill. One individual opposed this bill.

Your Committee finds that computers are needed in the classroom. Concerns were raised about the cost of maintaining the computers appropriated in this bill. Individual schools will be able to address this concern through instructional programs.

Your Committee has left the appropriation amount in this bill intact to ensure that moneys are designated specifically for purchasing computers. Your Committee wants the computer infrastructure and maintenance needs of schools to be addressed separately.

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. 179 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.