STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3537

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1787

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1787, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Erin's Law Task Force to review policies, programs, and curricula for educating public school students about sexual abuse prevention, and to make recommendations for the establishment of a program to educate students on sexual abuse prevention through age appropriate curricula.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; State Public Charter School Commission; American Association of University Women, Hawaii; American Association of University Women, Windward; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; Sex Abuse Treatment Center; and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committees find that sexual abuse is a serious and ongoing threat to the safety, health, and well-being of children and young people in the State.  Schools are the primary institution outside of the family in which children have constant contact with adults, teachers, and school personnel who are uniquely situated to responsibly educate children about the prevention and reporting of sex abuse, as well as helping at-risk children.  Although sex abuse training and curricula approved by the Department of Education exist in Hawaii, they are not implemented in a consistent manner.  Implementation of this measure will provide guidance in preparing teachers and school personnel to consistently educate and protect Hawaii's children.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language exempting Erin's Law Task Force meetings from chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1787, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1787, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair