STAND. COM. REP. NO.2750
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: S.B. No. 2013
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2013 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to give priority consideration for geographic exceptions for school attendance in a district outside of the student's residence for:
(1) An adopted child;
(2) A foster child;
(3) A child whose grandparents reside in the desired geographic area and provide before or after-school care; and
(4) Children of full-time staff for the Department of Education who work within the school complex within the desired geographic region.
Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Human Services. Testimony opposing this measure was received from the Department of Education.
Your Committee finds that students should be required to attend the school of the district in which they reside. However, the Department of Education should allow for exceptions when the benefit to the student is apparent. Your Committee acknowledges that the department already has the authority to grant geographic exceptions by administrative rule and on a case-by-case basis. However, your Committee finds that certain children should be given special consideration when a geographic exception is requested. In particular, foster children who have established stable relationships with certain school personnel and advisors should be allowed to continue attending that school although the foster parents may live in another school district. Your Committee finds that this measure further ensures that students are allowed to maintain a stable school support system and learning environment.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Clarifying that the priority for geographic exceptions provided by this measure are in addition to the reasons for exceptions given priority as provided by Department of Education rules;
(2) Clarifying that the priority for geographic exceptions provided by this measure applies to adopted children who would benefit from remaining in the school they were attending at the time of adoption;
(3) Clarifying that children of at least one qualified grandparent may be granted priority for geographic exceptions;
(4) Changing the effective date of this measure to July 1, 2020; and
(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes, including deleting an unnecessary definition.
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 S.B. No. 2013, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2013, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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