STAND. COM. REP. NO.  97

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 874

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 874 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education, in collaboration with stakeholders in the Hawaiian language community, to plan for, develop, and implement appropriate annual assessments in the Hawaiian language for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, O Hina I Ka Malama, and many individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Education submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     Your Committee notes that this measure currently calls for annual assessments in language arts, mathematics, and science.  Should your Committee on Education consider this measure, your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs respectfully requests that your Committee on Education consider whether the scope of the assessments should be broadened and whether the current scope is sufficient to accommodate federal requirements now and in the future. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 874, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 874, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Education.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair