STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2027

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2180

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2180 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the nomination, appointment, and confirmation procedure for Board of Education members and clarify the law with respect to holdover members on the board.

Your Committee received no testimony regarding this measure.

Your Committee finds that the existing nomination, appointment, and confirmation procedure for Board of Education members is inefficient and in need of improvement. Inefficiencies and undue delays in the nomination, appointment, and confirmation of Board of Education members negatively impact the operation of the board. In particular, this measure addresses the lack of consistency from the Governor in diligently adhering to the lawful appointment process, and seeks to curb recent manipulation of the holdover member provisions of existing law by withdrawing nominees prior to their confirmation or non-confirmation by the Senate.

Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure will increase efficiency in the nomination, appointment, and confirmation of Board of Education members, close the holdover member loophole that has recently been exploited, and promote the sound operation of the Board of Education.

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 S.B. No. 2180 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair