STAND. COM. REP. NO. 179

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 88

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. 88 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a student athlete travel pilot program to provide funds for intra-county travel expenses for student athletes of Maui County.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that, as a multi-island jurisdiction, Maui County students participating in school sports face unique and burdensome challenges when attending competitions within the county. The travel costs for student athletes to compete within Maui County presents significant and unique financial and logistical burdens for the athletes and their families, which may prevent student athletes from reaching their athletic potential. This measure would explore the use of a funding mechanism to cover intra-county travel expenses for student athletes of Maui County to ensure equitable access to the opportunities and benefits provided through participating in school sports and athletics.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that students of counties with a population of less than 500,000 are eligible for the student athlete travel pilot program;

(2) Allowing the funds appropriated for the student athlete travel pilot program to be used for the hiring of an athletic clerk to assist with travel procurement and the implementation of the pilot program;

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

(4) 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. 88, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 88, 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