STAND. COM. REP. NO. 869

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 971

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 971 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for a scholarship program to make awards to students pursuing teaching degrees at state accredited institutions of higher learning who successfully complete one course in computer science.

Your Committee received a written comment in support of this measure from the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee received a written comment on this measure from the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that, to compete nationally and globally, Hawaii students need access to comprehensive, grade-appropriate computer science classes. This measures encourages the State's future teachers to complete at least one computer science course.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from an unspecified amount to $100,000 for each fiscal year in the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 971, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 971, 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