STAND. COM. REP. NO. 319-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2248

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2248 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "private schools" under the State's compulsory attendance law to require unlicensed but accredited private schools to annually submit health and safety documentation to the Hawaii Council of Private Schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Catholic Schools, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that licensed schools in the State must submit annual verifications of health and safety information documents required by various state and county agencies. However, schools that are accredited but not licensed are not required to submit these annual verifications. Such documentation would only be verified during reaccreditation visits every five to ten years. This measure will increase transparency and accountability in the operation of private schools and help ensure that private schools follow best practices regarding student health and safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the Hawaii Catholic Schools office as an entity responsible for reviewing the annual health and safety documentation; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2248, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair