STAND. COM. REP. NO.  88

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 688

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 688 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to create a safe and civil learning environment for all students in public schools by requiring the Department of Education to maintain and monitor anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies and procedures.

 

     The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Japanese American Citizens League, Pride At Work Hawaii, Mental Health America of Hawaii, a member of the Board of Education, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Education opposed this measure.  Several concerned individuals provided comments.

 

     While this bill requires additional work for both content and clarity as it proceeds through the legislative process, your Committee feels that the topic is both timely and vital to the safety of Hawaii's keiki.  Your Committee looks forward to working with the Committee on Judiciary, should this measure continue forward.


 

     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. 688 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair