STAND. COM. REP. NO. 951-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1848

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1848, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT JOURNALISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act to:

(1) Allow student journalists at public schools and the University of Hawaii to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media; and

(2) Protect advisors from retaliation for refusing to infringe upon student press freedom.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Big Island Press Club, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Publishers Association, Hawaii Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, All Hawaii News, Student Press Law Center, and eleven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that journalism is a critical component of a well-functioning democracy. Your Committee believes that, to support and cultivate future generations of journalists, student journalists need to be able to practice their craft and refine it through their educators. This measure establishes the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution for student journalists and their educators while clarifying their responsibilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the proposed protections for student journalism do not apply to student expressions that constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1848, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1848, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair