STAND. COM. REP. NO. 329

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1168

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1168 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BULLYING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to adopt rules to prohibit school bullying and cyberbullying and to appropriate funds to the Department of Education to implement anti-bullying programs in the public schools.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Youth Helping Youth, and one individual.  The Department of Education submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that bullying and cyberbullying is an increasing problem in our schools and can have detrimental effects on students.  Your Committee also notes that the Board of Education has made representations in the past that it is going to implement a policy on bullying and cyberbullying, and therefore discussion on this issue should continue.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure to amend the effective date to encourage the Board of Education to take action on creating a policy for schools regarding bullying and cyberbullying, and to provide funding, if necessary.  Your Committee has also amended this measure to make technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1168, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1168, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair