STAND. COM. REP. NO.  263

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 4

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 4 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help ensure educational stability and transferability for the children of military personnel who transfer to Hawaii by making permanent the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Compact).  This bill also amends the Compact by, among other things, clarifying military representation on the State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children within the Board of Education.

     The State Department of Defense; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Military Officers Association of America, Hawaii Chapter; The Oahu Veterans Council, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The General Counsel for the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing provisions detailing how a receiving school must accommodate students if space is limited or not available;

     (2)  Removing time limitations on the continuation of a student's previous academic program;

     (3)  Authorizing a receiving school to allow a student to attend similar educational courses within the school district if those educational courses are not offered at the receiving school; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 4, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 4, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair