STAND. COM. REP. NO. 657

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 605

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 605, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the operations of the Department of Education by:

     (1)  Restructuring the Department of Education into two major divisions: the academic achievement division and the administration division; and

     (2)  Establishing senior deputy superintendent positions to head each division established by this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the Task Force on Reinventing Government established in 2009 found the Department of Education's existing governance and organizational structure to be unwieldy.  This measure implements the task force's recommendation of separating the department's academic achievement-related functions and administrative functions into two major divisions, as a means of increasing efficiency and accountability.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the issue; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 605, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 605, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair