STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2030

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2181

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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2181 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require certain unlicensed but accredited private schools to annually submit health and safety documentation to fall within the definition of "private schools" under compulsory attendance law, section 302A-1132, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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

Your Committee finds that the health and safety of students in the State is of paramount importance. Your Committee further finds that 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 adding Hawaii Catholic Schools as the entity responsible for reviewing the annual health and safety documentation required by this measure from certain Catholic schools in the State.

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. 2181, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2181, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair