CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 84-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2981

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2981, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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)  Recognize American Sign Language as a world language; and

     (2)  Allow students who pass courses in American Sign Language to receive credit for those courses toward satisfaction of graduation requirements for world language.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that American Sign Language is a vital part of the linguistic heritage of the State.  Familiarity and proficiency in American Sign Language benefits hearing impaired and non-impaired individuals by allowing easier, more efficient communication and exchange of ideas.  Additionally, research indicates that individuals with disabilities other than hearing impairment learn and gain proficiency in American Sign Language more quickly than in other languages such as Chinese or Spanish.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

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

     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. 2981, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2981, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair
____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Co-Chair	____________________________ GIL RIVIERE, Co-Chair