STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3883

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1848

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1848, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish freedom of speech and freedom of the press protections for student journalists producing school-sponsored media or university-sponsored media unless subject to certain exceptions; and

(2) Provide legal immunity for state agencies, officers, and employees for students' exercise of these freedoms.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Ka Leo O Hawai‘i, Student Press Law Center, Hawaii Publishers Association, and twenty-three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that student journalists attending Hawai‘i public schools and the University of Hawai‘i need additional protection against censorship, and that advisors need additional protections against retaliation for refusing to illegally censor student journalists. Pursuant to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Legislature to identify laws of statewide concern granted under article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution, your Committee further finds that allowing student journalists at the University of Hawai‘i to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media and protecting their advisors from retaliation for refusing to censor their students is a matter of statewide concern. This measure will establish protections for student journalists in Hawai‘i's public schools and the University of Hawai‘i.

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. 1848, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair