STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1878

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 186

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 186 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND STATE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION, TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE PRACTICES OF MANAGING HEAT EXPOSURE IN DEPARTMENT AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROTECT STUDENTS' HEALTH DURING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to conduct a study on the practices of managing heat exposure in Department and charter schools to protect student's health during outdoor activities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Department of Health; Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that rising air temperatures and Hawaii's high average relative humidity pose a significant challenge to human thermoregulation, particularly for individuals exercising outdoors where high humidity reduces the efficacy of the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. Your Committee further finds that children and younger athletes are particularly vulnerable to exertional heat illness as they have reduced thermoregulation capabilities and slower heat acclimatization compared to adults and are often unable to control the timing and conditions of outdoor activities, such as recess and individual or team practices, and may have limited access to hydration during these activities. This measure seeks to improve student health by requesting the Department of Education, in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, to conduct a study on heat exposure management practices in Department and charter schools.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 186 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair