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 S.B. No. 1817, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Education (Department) to conduct criminal history record checks of persons other than its employees who work or train in close proximity to public school students.

Presently, a criminal history record check in the Department of Education is only required of employees and persons seeking employment (including teacher trainees) who will be in close proximity to students. The law, however, does not cover a person who is a service provider, a subcontractor, or a higher education trainee. This bill expands the Department's authority to conduct criminal history record checks on these persons to ultimately ensure the safety of school children.

Your Committee has amended the bill by making technical amendments that have no substantive effect.

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 S.B. No. 1817, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1817, S.D. 2.