HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1078
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 1. By August 1, 2021, the board of education shall meet with alumni, student, and parent representatives of the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind, other members of the Hawaii deaf community, and representatives of the department of education about progress toward a plan to convert the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a charter school and to discuss alternatives, including an immersion school structure.

SECTION 2. By October 1, 2021, the department of education, in consultation with alumni, student, and parent representatives of the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind and other members of the Hawaii deaf community, shall:

(1) Submit a letter of intent to an authorizer to convert the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a charter school;

(2) Assist with the establishment of an applicant governing board for the charter school; and

(3) Develop a detailed implementation plan to transition the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a conversion charter school, as defined in section 302D‑1, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The plan shall:

(A) Comply with requirements for the establishment of a conversion charter school, as detailed in section 302D-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(B) Ensure that the school remains on the same property, uses the same facilities, and has access to the same level of funding it has before conversion to a conversion charter school;

(C) Allow for a public school student whose individualized education program prescribes that the child needs the support provided by the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to be granted automatic admittance into the school;

(D) Include a timeline for the school's transition to a conversion charter school; and

(E) List any additional funding necessary to transition the school to a conversion charter school.

SECTION 3. The department of education shall report to the legislature with the implementation plan, funding requirements, and any proposed legislation no later than forty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

SECTION 4. Upon receipt of the letter of intent to convert the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a charter school, the state public charter school commission or applicable authorizer shall begin the approval process for the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind as provided in chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and title 8, Hawaii Administrative Rules, chapter 505.

PART II

SECTION 5. Section 302D-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

"(c) A conversion charter school shall:

(1) Enroll any student who resides within the school's former geographic service area pursuant to section 302A-1143, for the grades that were in place when the department school converted to a charter school; provided that the department may consult with a conversion charter school every three years to determine whether realignment of the charter school's service area is appropriate given population shifts and the department's overall service area reviews; [and]

(2) Enroll any student whose individualized education program prescribes that the conversion charter school provides support for blind, deaf, or hard of hearing students; and

[(2)] (3) Be subject to subsection (b):

(A) For grades that were not in place when the school converted to a public charter school; and

(B) For any seats still available at the charter school after the enrollment of all students desiring to attend the charter school who reside within the school's former geographic service area pursuant to section 302A-1143."

PART III

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Department of Education; Hawaii School for Deaf and Blind; Charter Schools; Deaf and Blind Task Force

Description:

Requires the department of education to develop a plan to transition the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a conversion charter school. Requires a conversion charter school to enroll a student if the student's individualized education program prescribes that the charter school provides support for blind, deaf, or hard of hearing students. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.