Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 533 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii military-civilian education task force to improve school relations and curriculum coordination between the military and the Department of Education (DOE).

Your Committees received testimony from the DOE supporting the intent of this measure, but opposing this bill as presented based on the existence of the Joint Venture Education Forum (Forum).

Your Committees find that the Forum, comprised of DOE officials and military personnel on Oahu, was also created to facilitate interaction between the military community and the DOE in order to assist the DOE in its understanding and support of the needs of military children and families.

Your Committees recognize the existence of the Forum, but are concerned that the members of the Forum are largely high ranking military officers and high level DOE officials.

Your Committees find that there should be more grassroots participation in any group designed to act as a liaison for military children entering our public schools. Your Committees believe that the task force established by this measure will benefit from grassroots participation, and urges the task force to work closely with the existing Forum.

Your Committees also would like the DOE to publicize the activities of the Forum better, so that the public will be better informed of the activities of the Forum and the steps it has taken to better integrate children from military families into our public schools.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 533 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.