THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	144
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Hawaii Department of Education to develop a strategy to implement a reopening plan for the upcoming school year based on guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a worldwide pandemic due to the nature of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned virus forced the entire State of Hawaii to implement a shelter-inplace order, initially mandated by Governor David Ige in March of this year, with the intent of reducing the number of people potentially exposed to the virus; and

WHEREAS, under that order, large public gatherings were sharply curtailed; and

WHEREAS, attending Hawaii Department of Education schools and school-sponsored events were categorized as large public gatherings and subject to the order; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Department of Education has continued providing instruction through distance learning; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Department of Education has not submitted a finalized plan to reopen the educational system for approval by the Legislature; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Hawaii Department of Education, in conjunction with the Legislature, is requested to develop a strategy to implement a reopening plan for the upcoming school year based on guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Department of Education is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than June 1, 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education and Chairperson of the Board of Education.

Report Title:

Department of Education; COVID-19; Reopening Plan