STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1834

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.C.R. No. 162

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 162 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO COORDINATE WITH HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN HAWAII AND TO PARTNER WITH DEBATE ORGANIZATIONS IN ORGANIZING EVENTS FOR STUDENTS TO DEBATE ON CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING HAWAII AND THE NATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support and encourage debating events in Hawaii for high school and college students.

     Specifically, this measure requests:

(1)  The Department of Education to coordinate with educational organizations and universities and colleges in Hawaii and partner with debate and speech organizations and the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Management in organizing events for high school and college students to engage in the debate of current issues affecting Hawaii and the nation;

(2)  The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Management to select a panel comprised of legislators, legislative aides, or community leaders to provide debate topics and before whom debates will take place; and

(3)  Debates be held at the Hawaii State Capitol pursuant to the rules of the Legislature.

Several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The University of Hawaii, Department of Education, and a concerned individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Encouraging the Department of Education, in partnership with Debate Hawaii and the Hawaii Speech League, to work with the Committee on Legislative Management of the House of Representatives to promote debating events on state and national issues for Hawaii high school and university students;

     (2)  Deleting the specific examples of issues covered by public debates at the Hawaii State Capitol sponsored by Debate Hawaii;

     (3)  Providing that organizations should promote more debate events as resources allow; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 162, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 162, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair