STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1860-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 175

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 175 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTIES TO WORK WITH THE CIVIL DEFENSE DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO DEVELOP METHODS OF EXPEDITING THE INSTALLATION OR CONSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY WARNING SIRENS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF DISASTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the counties to work with the Civil Defense Division of the Department of Defense to develop methods of expediting the installation or construction of emergency warning sirens throughout the State in the event of disaster.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the state Department of Defense, Civil Defense Division.

     Your Committee circulated a proposed draft of this measure that requests the Department of Education to create a task force for the purpose of studying the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.  Testimony in support of the proposed draft was received from the United States Pacific Command, and late testimony opposing the proposed draft was submitted by the Office of the Governor.

     Your Committee finds that providing stability and continuity for military children transferring between school districts and states is an important goal.  Your Committee further finds that the intent of an interstate compact is to facilitate a more uniform approach between states; however, a thorough analysis of our Department of Education's approach to addressing and resolving the concerns of military children is not yet complete.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed draft.  As amended, the measure requests the Department of Education to form a task force to:

     (1)  Study the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children;

     (2)  Review the Department's current practices and procedures regarding issues related to military children;

     (3)  Recommend the State's most appropriate course of action relating to the Compact and any necessary changes to current department practices; and

     (4)  Submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 175, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 175, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair