Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 277 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to deter and prevent truancy by establishing procedural guidelines and penalties for an absentee child and the mother, father, guardian, or other person having charge of the child. Specifically, this bill, among other things:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the bill from two vice principals of Waianae High School. Your Committee received comments on the bill from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that truancy is a major impediment to student learning. However, your Committee notes that the penalties imposed by the bill may cause undue financial hardship on the parents or guardians of truant students, and could impose penalties harsher than those already available through filing of petitions for truancy and educational neglect. In spite of these reservations, however, your Committee feels that truancy remains an enduring problem that needs to be considered by the Committee on Judiciary in the broader context of all available and potential legal and administrative remedies.

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. 277 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.