STAND. COM. REP. NO. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 411

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 411, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the engagement of the Board of Education (Board) with the community by requiring the Board to:

(1) Hold at least six community meetings per year with at least one community meeting held in each county;

(2) Provide an open forum at the end of every public meeting agenda to afford all interested persons an opportunity to present oral testimony on any matter not on the agenda; and

(3) Report to the Legislature on its efforts to include an open forum at the end of each public meeting agenda.

The O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, and two individuals testified in support of this measure. The Board and Office of Information Practices provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring and authorizing a set number of Board community forums instead of requiring Board community meetings;

(2) Establishing requirements for holding Board community forums; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 411, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 411, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair