STAND. COM. REP. NO.  982

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 598

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 598 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance the learning experiences of students across the state by establishing the Online Learning Task Force (Task Force) to develop a systematic plan to expand opportunities for online learning.

     The Department of Education testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Terminating the task force on June 30, 2008;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to

          encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style,

          clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 598, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 598, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair