STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2801

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2521

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2521 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide moneys for special education teacher classroom materials to ensure a quality educational experience for all special needs students.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Special Education Advisory Council; Hawaii State Teachers Association; IMUAlliance; Kalaheo High School; and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that special education services, including academic, speech-language, psychological, physical and occupational, and counseling accommodations, are needed to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Your Committee further finds that, based on statewide assessments, the achievement gap between special education students and general education students in the State is increasing, and closing this gap requires investing in additional resources for special education teachers and classrooms.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2521, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2521, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair