STAND. COM. REP. NO. 685

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 403
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No.
403, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide a tax credit for the
purchase of laptop computers for educational purposes.

     Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure
from the Superintendent of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers
Association, the principals of Moanalua High School and Shafter
Elementary School, and a parent of a fifth grade student.
Informational testimony was received from the Tax Foundation of
Hawaii.

     Your Committee agrees with the intent of this bill to
establish a tax incentive to provide increased access to
technological tools for all students.  Your Committee finds that
early studies have shown that students using laptop computers
generally improve their research and analytical skills, write
more frequently and in greater depth, and participate in more
project-based instruction and oral presentations.  Your Committee
finds that greater access to laptop computers for all students
will help to prepare them for the technological challenges they
will face as adults in the twenty-first century.


 
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                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 685
                                 Page 2

 
     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.
403, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair

 
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