STAND. COM. REP. NO. 529

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 799

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 799 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 2, OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION, TO CLARIFY THE SELECTION OF THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to propose a constitutional amendment to clarify the selection of the student member of the Board of Education.

     Your Committee finds that the student member of the Board of Education brings valuable perspective and insights regarding the day-to-day educational needs, experiences, and concerns of students in Board discussions.  In addition, the Board has indicated that this input and perspective is critical in the development and implementation of sound educational policies.

     Current law requires the student member to be selected by the Hawaii State Student Council.  This measure would change the selection of the student member since that member will be a voting member.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 799 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair