Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1908, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to set aside federal impact aid moneys for the establishment of a military liaison position within the Department of Education.

Specifically, the military liaison shall be exempt from the civil service law (chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes), but eligible to receive the benefits of any state or federal employee benefit program that is generally applicable to officers and employees of the State. In addition, this measure funds the Joint Venture Education Forum to facilitate interaction between the military community and the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that a military liaison in the Department of Education is needed to act as the primary facilitator of initiatives such as the 3R's and joint education forums. Currently, many federal resources are funneled only to schools that have a relationship with the military command, who request and manage such funds. A liaison would act as the conduit of information to and from the department and military families, work with the military leadership to develop ideas to assist military families and schools with military dependents, and link military sponsored activities and resources with those schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1908, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1908, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.