STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2728

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2134

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2134 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to bring Hawaii's law into compliance with the requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by allowing exceptional children under the age of twenty-two years to attend public school.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's current law regarding the maximum age of eligibility to attend a public school in Hawaii does not comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Increasing the maximum age from twenty to twenty-two years will bring Hawaii's law into compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style and clarity.

     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. 2134, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2134, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair