STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3378

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 121

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 121 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS WHEREBY THE PUBLIC MAY PETITION THE BOARD TO ADD ITEMS TO THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT MEETING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Education to establish a process whereby the public may petition the Board to add items to the agenda of the next meeting.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Native Hawaiian Education Council, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the public is permitted to testify at Board of Education meetings, but only for items that already appear on the agenda which has been set by the Board in advance of the meeting. A process whereby the public could petition the Board of Education to add items to the agenda of an upcoming meeting would advance the Board's stated goal of establishing a more open decision-making process and ensure that the public has an opportunity to provide input on the Board's decisions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 121 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair