STAND. COM. REP. NO. 357-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2683

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2683 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACCESS TO LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the sunset date for the exemption of laboratory school programs of the Hawaiian Language College at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from state English-medium standards, assessments, performance ratings, staff qualifications, and staff training requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning; University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu; Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna; ʻAha Pūnana Leo; Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Iki; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure is aligned with the Early Learning Board's Road Map, which among other things, recommends the permanent exemption of the Hawaiian Language College's laboratory programs and all Hawaiian medium learning environments from non-applicable standards, assessments, performance ratings, staff qualifications, and staff training requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2683, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2683, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair