STAND. COM. REP. NO.42-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 1874

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1874 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 2, OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION, TO ALLOW THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO VOTE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to propose a constitutional amendment to allow the student member of the Board of Education (BOE) to be a voting member, except on matters directly related to either fiscal or personnel matters. The question to be printed on the ballot is: "Shall the student member of the board of education be allowed to vote on all matters except on issues directly pertaining to either fiscal or personnel matters?"

The BOE, a representative of the Hawaii State Student Council, a representative of the Student Conference Planning Committee, the BOE student member, two public school graduates, and eight public school students testified in support of this measure. The Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted comments.

Your Committee recognizes that today's students will be tomorrow's leaders, and believes that providing the BOE student member with voting privileges is a reflection of our commitment to student empowerment. Further, it is a demonstration of our confidence in our youth to make responsible decisions.

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. 1874 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

 

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

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair