STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1082

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1749
                                     H.D. 2




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No.
1749, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance geography competence
in schools statewide by:

     (1)  Incorporating the national geography standards set
          forth in Geography for Life:  National Geography
          Standards 1994 into the Department of Education's (DOE)
          Hawaii Content of Performance Standards; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for the University of Hawaii,
          College of Social Sciences, Geography Department, to
          train and develop educators to promote local
          implementation of the national geography standards;
          provided that no funds shall be released unless matched
          dollar-for-dollar by the National Geographic Society.

     Several individuals testified in support of this measure.
DOE and the Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in
support of the intent of this measure.  The National Geographic
Society Education Foundation commented on this measure.

     Your Committee notes that Article X, sections 2 and 3, of
the Constitution of the State of Hawaii establishes an elected
Board of Education and empowers it to formulate policy and
exercise control over the public school system, including
subjects such as geography.

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1082
                                 Page 2

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount to $1 to facilitate
          continued discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
          purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
1749, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1749, H.D.
2.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair