STAND. COM. REP. NO. 568-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2258

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the expulsion and limit the suspension of children participating in the Executive Office on Early Learning Public Prekindergarten Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Parents and Children Together, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Updating its preamble; and

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

Should future committees deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Judiciary respectfully requests that those committees consider the concerns raised by the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, regarding limiting the discretion and flexibility of school administrators to issue consequences.

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. 2258, 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. 2258, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair