STAND. COM. REP. NO.615

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1002

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1002 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 measure is to amend article X, section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to allow the student member of the Board of Education to vote.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Education, Maui County Council, and four students. The Hawaii State Teachers Association opposed the measure.

Your Committee finds that the student board member represents more than 187,000 students ranging from kindergarten to twelfth grades. Student members provide valuable perspective and insight into the real life educational needs of students, and enhances the Board's understanding of current school issues and student concerns. Your Committee notes that the student member is an official member of the Board participating in all executive sessions with all the same responsibilities and duties as other Board members. Your Committee further notes that the Board supports voting rights for its student member. Your Committee further notes that the Senate has supported previous bills of this nature and believes the student member deserves the right to vote.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1002 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair