STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2583

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2877

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2877, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Task Force on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

     More specifically, in response to the fact that over twenty other states are considering or will soon consider legislation to enact the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, this measure creates and directs the Task Force to examine and report on our State's and other states' current handling of educational requirements for military children, for the purpose of better informing Hawaii's decision-making regarding the Compact.

     Testimony in support of the bill was received from the Department of Education and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

     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.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by specifying that the individual appointed by the Governor to represent the National Guard shall be a member of the Hawaii National Guard.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2877, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2877, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair