STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1539

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 179

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.R. No. 179 entitled:

"HOUSE 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 schools and charter schools to protect students' health during outdoor activities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; State Public Charter School Commission; and Hawaii Climate Change and Health Working Group.

Your Committee finds that rising air temperatures and the State's high average relative humidity pose a significant challenge to human thermoregulation, particularly for individuals exercising outdoors where high humidity reduces the effectiveness of the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. Your Committee further finds that the dangers of exertional heat illness are particularly high for children, who have reduced thermoregulation capabilities and slower heat acclimatization compared to adults. Your Committee believes that an in-depth study is necessary to determine the best practices for managing heat exposure and to develop a plan if the existing practices of managing heat exposure in department schools and charter schools are insufficient in ensuring student safety from heat exposure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 179 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Health.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair