STAND. COM. REP. NO. 784

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1078

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1078, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) By August 1, 2021, the Board of Education to 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 on progress to convert the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a charter school and to discuss other alternatives;

(2) By October 1, 2021, the Department of Education to develop an implementation plan to transition the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind to a conversion charter school; and

(3) Conversion charter schools to enroll any student whose individualized education program prescribes that the conversion charter school provides support for blind, deaf, or hard of hearing students.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui Deaf Friends and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1078, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair