STAND. COM. REP. NO. 39

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 620

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 620 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO REQUIRE THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to change the Board of Education back to an elected body.

The Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Honolulu County Republican Party, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. The League of Women Voters of Hawaii opposed the measure. The Office of the Governor and Board of Education submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 620, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 620, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair