SB2147

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that first-hand knowledge of other cultures, along with learning opportunities in foreign countries, can help prepare students to fully participate in today's global economy. Additionally, Hawaii students and faculty who participate in foreign exchange programs foster goodwill, cultural interaction, and positive international relationships between the State of Hawaii and foreign countries.

Currently, the State of Hawaii has a sister state relationship with four prefectures in Japan: Fukuoka, Okinawa, Hiroshima, and Ehime. The Hawaii-Okinawa Student Exchange Program, which has been in existence for seventeen years, is an example of a cost-effective and beneficial program that fosters global awareness and cross-cultural exchange among today's youth.

A similar exchange program between Hawaii and the Philippines would strengthen an already mutually beneficial relationship between Hawaii and the Philippines, with whom the State has had a long history of cultural, social, and economic ties. For example, the State of Hawaii in 2006 commemorated the centennial of Filipino migration to Hawaii and officials from the Republic of the Philippines have expressed a strong interest in developing student exchange programs with Hawaii. The State of Hawaii currently has a sister state relationship with five provinces in the Philippines: Ilocos Sur, Cebu, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, and Isabela.

The purpose of this Act is to develop a student and faculty exchange program with Hawaii's sister provinces in the Philippines to foster global awareness, promote cultural exchange, and provide cross-cultural learning opportunities among Hawaii's youth, faculty, and educational communities.

SECTION 2. The department of education shall develop, plan, and implement a student and faculty exchange program with Hawaii's sister state provinces in the Republic of the Philippines. The department shall consult with the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and various Filipino community organizations such as the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Congress of Visayan Organizations, and others in the development, planning, and implementation of the student and faculty exchange program. The program shall be implemented no later than the 2010-2011 school year.

SECTION 3. The department of education shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations on the status of the development, implementation, and maintenance of a student and faculty exchange program between Hawaii and its sister provinces in the Republic of the Philippines no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the development and implementation of a student and faculty exchange program between Hawaii and its sister provinces in the Republic of the Philippines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2147
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII