Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1303 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to add a new section to Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Felix class children, and define the terms applicable to these children.

Your Committees heard testimony in support of the measure from the State Auditor, and in opposition from the Attorney General and Department of Education. The Department of Health provided comments on the measure.

Your Committees find that the lack of a clear, universally understood definition is one of the central problems in expeditiously moving the State towards full compliance with the Felix Consent Decree.

Your Committees amended the measure by deleting the provisions defining Felix class children in favor of directing the Department of Education to adopt an operational/working definition in Hawaii administrative rules by June 30, 2002.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1303, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1303, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.