Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 268 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and fund a Hawaiian Language Immersion Program.

Testimony in favor of the measure was received from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Education, the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, and Na Leo Kako'o `O O'ahu.

Your Committees find that this measure provides the enabling statutory framework for the implementation of the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program as proposed in the Department of Education's Operational and Financial Plan for the Hawaii Language Immersion Program. The measure also appropriates funds to implement this purpose.

Your Committees believe that this establishment of such a program would assist in the proliferation of and proficiency in the Hawaiian language.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 268 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.