REPORT TITLE:
Science Lab Assist


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes and appropriates funds for a science lab assistant
pilot project.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                             
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           878
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                     
STATE OF HAWAII                                                 
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A SCIENCE LAB ASSISTANT PILOT
   PROJECT.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that science has always
 
 2 been an important component of the curriculum of Hawaii's public
 
 3 schools, and it is expected to become more prominent as Hawaii
 
 4 and the world are propelled toward the twenty-first century.
 
 5 However, science teachers at the intermediate/middle and high
 
 6 school levels face increasing demands, while continuing to be
 
 7 responsible for maintaining safe laboratory conditions that meet
 
 8 occupational safety and health standards.  Because of the
 
 9 substantial potential for liability and to ensure safety, science
 
10 departments must maintain accurate inventories of chemicals and
 
11 science equipment, in addition to a file of multiple safety data
 
12 sheets for chemicals.  The legislature also finds that science
 
13 teachers typically spend long hours of laboratory preparation
 
14 after school to provide students with laboratory experiences that
 
15 are aligned with the Hawaii State Performance Standards and to
 
16 prepare for advanced placement science courses.  The legislature
 
17 further finds that it is critical to provide more resources to
 
18 science teachers by creating laboratory assistant positions to
 
19 assist teachers and help to ensure safety in science school
 

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           878
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 laboratories.
 
 2      Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and
 
 3 fund a science lab assistant pilot project.
 
 4      SECTION 2.  There is established a science lab assistant
 
 5 pilot project to provide one full-time science lab assistant to
 
 6 be assigned to one high school in each departmental school
 
 7 district, for a total of eight science lab assistants.  The
 
 8 superintendent of education shall determine the high schools to
 
 9 which the science lab assistants shall be assigned.  The
 
10 superintendent shall submit a report, including any
 
11 recommendations, on the pilot project to the legislature twenty
 
12 days prior to the commencing of the regular session of 2000.
 
13      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
14 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so
 
15 much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, to
 
16 establish a science lab assistant pilot project, including the
 
17 hiring of necessary staff.
 
18      SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
19 department of education for the purposes of this Act.
 
20      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
21 
 
22                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________
 
23