STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2350

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2350 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 2, OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the student Board of Education member to be a voting member and mandates the election of the student Board of Education member to be made by public secondary school students.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by three state agencies and thirteen individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that membership of an elected student member will assist the Board of Education in developing insight into the perspectives of students and be better equipped to address the concerns of students.  Your Committee also finds that membership of an elected student member will enhance the Board of Education's understanding and knowledge of issues that are essential to providing the best education that is possible for all public school students.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2350, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2350, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair