STAND. COM. REP. NO. 737

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 813

       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. 813, S.D. 1, 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 and intent of this measure is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents.

Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Makes the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children permanent;

     (2)  Deletes provisions relating to furnishing of unofficial education records;

     (3)  Deletes a provision allowing state schools to place military students in courses on a space-available basis; and

     (4)  Clarifies military representation on the State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children within the Board of Education.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from Laurie Crehan, Ed.D., Quality of Life Regional Liaison, Department of Defense State Liaison Office.

     Your Committee finds that it is especially difficult for military children to continually adjust to new educational environments.  Frequent moves and deployment of family members create unique challenges for these children.  This measure will help ease the strain on the children of military families and make educational transitions easier.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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. 813, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 813, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair