STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2390

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2877

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2877 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enact the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Defense, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Military Affairs Council, the Department of Defense State Liaison Office, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by two individuals.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Department of Education.

     Your Committees find that changing schools can be an enormous ordeal for military families and military children.  Education curriculum and education requirements can vary tremendously between states, school districts, and even schools.  Your Committees further find that twenty-five states, including Hawaii, are or will be considering legislation for the enactment of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children this year.  Interstate compacts are intended to facilitate a more uniformed approach between states on specific local and state issues.  An interstate compact will become effective upon adoption by ten or more states.  This measure establishes Hawaii's participation in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which focuses on providing stability and continuity for military children transferring between school districts and states. 

     Your Committees determine that adoption of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children may be premature at this time, as thorough analyses of the Compact as well as the Department of Education's current practices have not been completed.  Testimony provided indicates that the Department of Education has endeavored to address or resolve concerns and issues at the school or district level regarding military children.  Your Committees believe that it would be prudent to examine the Department of Education's efforts in conjunction with the provisions of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to determine the appropriate approach for the State.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting its contents implementing the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; and

     (2)  Replacing its contents with language that establishes a Task Force on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to examine the Compact and the Department of Education's practices to determine the appropriate action for the State.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2877, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2877, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair	____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair
	____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair