STAND. COM. REP. NO. 269

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 365

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 365 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT INFORMED CONSENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow public school students in grades kindergarten through 12 to decline participation in dissection, vivisection, and other procedures harmful to animals;

(2) Require schools to make alternative educational projects available, and the Board of Education to develop rules and give notice to all schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and one individual.

Your Committee finds that dissections and vivisections are a well-established part of many biology class curricula, but some students have ethical, moral, or religious objections to those practices. Advancements in computer software and other technologies have made it possible for schools to achieve the educational objectives met by dissections and vivisections while still respecting the positions and convictions of students regarding the humane treatment of animals.

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. 365 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