STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1616

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.R. No. 204
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Health, to which was
referred H.R. No. 204 entitled: 

     "HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE AN
     INFORMAL AND TEMPORARY JOINT COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS
     OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO
     JOINTLY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
     EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
     INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITH
     DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to provide opportunities
for employees to participate fully in the development of
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for their children with
disabilities.

     Information Services testified in support of the measure.
The Department of Education (DOE) testified that it appreciates
the Legislature's efforts to enable employees to participate
fully in the development of IEPs for their children with
disabilities.

     Your Committees find that while 1990 Administrative
Directive No. 90-17 (Directive) currently exists to permit
parents who are state employees to attend school conferences,
there are many other parents who are not state employees and to
whom the Directive does not apply.  In addition, the development

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1616
                                 Page 2

 
of IEPs for children with disabilities normally requires more
time than the permissible administrative time off pursuant to the
Directive.

     Your Committees also find that the proposed joint committee,
to be composed of members of the business community and the DOE,
will be a useful vehicle to come to grips with the issues that
impede the necessary involvement of parents in the development of
IEPs.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Education and Health that are attached to this
report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of
H.R. No. 204, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Education and
                                   Health,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair       KEN ITO, Chair