CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 37

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2013

RE:    S.B. No. 239

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 239, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Repeal chapter 317, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), and move the statutory provisions relating to the annual conference of secondary school students to chapter 302A, HRS, relating to education;

     (2)  Replace the Governor's authority to appoint members of the student conference committee with that of the Superintendent of Education and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools;

     (3)  Repeal the provision requiring that certain members of the Legislature and the Department of Education be included in the membership of the student conference advisory committee and instead require the Department of Education to maintain guidelines and procedures for establishing the advisory committee;

     (4)  Repeal the three-day limit for the annual conference and provide that the conference is subject to program and funding limitations; and

     (5)  Repeal the requirement for an evaluation report on conference proceedings.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the Student Conference Committee provides secondary students with the opportunity to learn valuable skills and connect with and learn from other secondary school students.  In addition, it provides a forum for secondary school students to share their thoughts and concerns on issues that impact their schools and communities.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 239, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 239, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI, Co-Chair	____________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair
____________________________ KANIELA ING, Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Co-Chair