STAND. COM. REP. NO.  524

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1268

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INNOVATION IN EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this bill is to prepare the highly skilled workforce necessary for a new economy through programs to develop science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills in students in the public schools and at the University of Hawaii (UH).  This bill establishes:

 

(1)  A Hawaii Excellence through Science and Technology (HiEST) Academy Program focusing on STEM skills in public high school students and enabling these students to enter college without the need for remediation in these subjects;

 

(2)  The Fostering Inspiration and Relevance Through Science and Technology (FIRST) Pre-academy Program to stimulate interest and achievement in STEM subjects and prepare middle school students for entry into HiEST;

 

(3)  A Research Experience for Teachers Program administered by the UH College of Engineering in coordination with the FIRST Program to support development of public

     middle school teacher skills, knowledge, and curriculum materials in STEM subjects with a focus on wireless communications;

 

(4)  A professional development program in UH for public school science and mathematics teachers from elementary through high school to increase their knowledge of recent developments and best practices in science, technology, and mathematics;

 

(5)  Continued funding for the stipends provided by the Transition to Teaching Program to encourage persons with degrees in STEM subjects to obtain teaching certificates through UH's post baccalaureate certificate in secondary education program;

 

(6)  The Business and Education Internship and Mentorship Program to provide experiential learning arrangements within the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors, for public high school students and college students attending college in Hawaii and elsewhere; and

 

(7)  The Eminent Scholars Program to provide matching funds to establish at least five permanently endowed chairs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at UH.

 

The bill also appropriates funds to implement the new programs.

 

     The Governor, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Education and UH supported the intent of this bill.

 

     Your Committee believes that the systemic approach taken by this bill is essential if we are to instill in our youth, and within our educational system and community, the interest, experiences, and knowledge necessary to support careers in the higher-paying, high technology business sector.  Your Committee notes that the STEM Scholarship Program was included in H.B. No. 1268, but not in the H.D.1 of the bill.  The Governor requested that this program be reinstated as an important component of the system established by the bill, that would have provided graduates of HiEST academies with college scholarships to pursue STEM degrees or certificates in approved STEM disciplines.


 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2034, to encourage further discussion of the measure; and

 

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair