STAND. COM. REP. NO. 346

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 620

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 620 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to include the instruction of braille and provision of braille instructional materials under certain circumstances; and

(2) Require and appropriate funds to the Department of Education to establish and maintain a braille literacy resource center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii; Hawaii State Committee of Blind Vendors; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Education; and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that literacy skills are necessary for success in education, employment, and life for all members of society, including individuals who have low vision or are blind. Your Committee further finds that Braille literacy skills are fundamental for low vision and blind students to learn, seek and maintain remunerative employment, and access the opportunities in life open to all regardless of disability. Your Committee believes that it is in the best interest of the State to make learning opportunities available to all residents. Therefore, your Committee finds it necessary to promote Braille instruction and the timely access to braille instructional materials for low vision and blind students, parents, teachers, and other school personnel.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 620, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 620, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair