STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1500

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 841

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 841, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make various amendments and appropriations to improve public education in the State.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Appropriates funds to assist and fund the continued implementation of Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, the Reinventing Education Act of 2004;

(2) Establishes and funds a grant program to develop a civic responsibility curriculum;

(3) Appropriates funds to purchase science textbooks;

(4) Establishes and funds a new research-based curriculum throughout the public school system to develop critical and creative thinking skills;

(5) Improves the composition of the Workforce Development Council;

(6) Appropriates funds for job training and education programs at the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii;

(7) Allows Department of Education volunteers to participate in the employer-union health benefits trust fund; and

(8) Establishes and funds a volunteer coordinator position in the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that this measure addresses many of the concerns raised by educators, parents of school-aged children, and supporters of public education. The provisions of this measure will serve to enhance the on-going discussions by your Committee to craft an education program proposal that is responsive to the needs of the community and public education. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by changing appropriation amounts to unspecified amounts for purposes of furthering discussion.

Your Committee has also amended this measure by making technical amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

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. 841, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 841, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair