STAND. COM. REP. NO. 120

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 867

       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. 867 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of converting hard cover textbooks to e-books for use in public schools.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii currently suffers from a textbook shortage, which adversely affects students' abilities to learn in the classroom and study and complete homework assignments at home.  Your Committee further finds that the costs associated with providing an adequate number of textbooks, and even more specifically up-to-date textbooks, to all students is a costly endeavor.  Your Committee believes that in this new age of technology, the State must explore creative and innovative options for assuring proper learning materials are provided to students and teachers.  E-books, or electronic books, are text documents that have been converted to a digital format that can be accessed on computers or other electronic devices.  They are user-friendly and provide greater options for students, as opposed to traditional textbooks.  However, as the use of e-books over traditional textbooks is a new approach for the schools, your Committee determines that a feasibility study should be conducted to ascertain the true costs and benefits associated with the purchase of e-books for use in public schools.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive measures for 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. 867, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 867, 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