STAND. COM. REP. NO.563

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 582

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 582 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CYBERSPACE ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education to establish an academy relating to cyberspace entrepreneurs in the public school system.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Governor's Special Advisor for Technology Development, Special Assistant to the Director of the Maui High Performance Computer Center, Dean Emeritus of the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii, Axean Pacific, Rose Express, St. Clements School, Communications-Pacific, Inc., and a teacher from Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School. Your Committee heard testimony in opposition to the measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that if Hawaii is to compete effectively in the New Economy, the State must actively encourage the establishment and operation of training and education programs in high technology. Cyberspace Entrepreneurs is an excellent example of one such program, with the unique added element of also fostering entrepreneurship. The program has a cohesive mission, an active, experienced Board of Directors, and great potential to develop the workforce and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The program is already successful in a number of schools. Establishing a centralized academy will consolidate the gains the program has already made, and provide a source of technical assistance that can guide existing and future programs in the schools.

Your Committee has amended the measure to allow the Department of Education greater flexibility in the creation of the academy, to mandate that the department choose the program director in collaboration with the cyberspace entrepreneurs academy board of directors, and to focus initial efforts on establishing a program for grades nine through twelve.

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 S.B. No. 582, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. 582, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair