STAND. COM. REP. NO.  273

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1398

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1398 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow public schools to use school resources to distribute to students and their families third party promotional materials that contain information about a community event, or are produced by or offer services from a nonprofit organization, if the materials have a clear and specific benefit for students, closely align with the Department of Education's educational mission, or advance the implementation of the Department's strategic plan.

The Department of Education testified in support of the measure.  The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, and two concerned individuals testified in opposition.

     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 H.B. No. 1398 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair