STAND. COM. REP. NO.  141-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2457

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2457 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to:

     (1)  Allow the principal of each public school to establish and use a debit card system based at the individual school level for the purpose of purchasing school supplies and other related curriculum supplies; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the implementation of such debit card system.

     The representative from the 27^th representative district and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported the intent this measure.  The Department of Education opposed this bill.

     Your Committee finds that whether a debit card system or some other system is implemented, there should be a mechanism in place for teachers to pay for much-needed classroom supplies, rather than out of their own pockets.

     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 H.B. No. 2457 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair