STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2202

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2775

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2775 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide flexibility to the Department of Education to implement student health programs by repealing:

     (1)  Certain operational requirements established in chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  The requirement that the Department of Education adopt administrative rules for its student health program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Community Children's Council of Hawaii.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, HGEA/AFSCME, Local 152, AFL-CIO (HGEA).

     Your Committee finds that this measure will give the Department of Education the flexibility necessary to ensure that schools are able to provide health programs and services that reflect the needs of their students and the school community.  As this measure progresses, your Committee encourages the Department of Education to consult with the appropriate bargaining units of HGEA.

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

     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 S.B. No. 2775, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2775, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair