Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1533 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose a constitutional amendment to require a seventeen-member Board of Education.

Specifically:

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association, one member of the Board of Education, and an individual. The Office of Elections, and Hawaii Government Employees Association submitted comments.

Your Committees find that this measure allows for the exploration of alternative structures to provide the voter a better opportunity to communicate their needs and issues to a Board of Education member. This alternative direction will allow the board members to be more easily identifiable and accountable to their constituents.

Although there were relevant concerns raised by testifiers, your Committees find merit in the proposed structure. It is the intention of your Committees to approve this measure so as to continue the discussion of the need for improving the structure of the board.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1533 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.