Report Title:

Board of Education; At-Large Members

 

Description:

Proposes amendments to the Hawaii Constitution to provide that six at-large members of the board of education are to have expertise in designated areas.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

955

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the duties and responsibilities of the members of the board of education are specialized and limited to knowledge and skills in public education. However, all thirteen members of the board are elected at-large. This means that any qualified person can run for the board for an at-large seat, with or without a specialized knowledge of some aspect of public education or a related area. The legislature finds that requiring six of the at-large members who are not required to be a resident of a certain geographic area to have a background in various areas, including business, health and social services, financial management, as well as education, would greatly assist the board in resolving difficult policy issues.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to propose amendments to article X, section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide for the appointment of six at-large board of education members who have expertise in certain areas.

SECTION 2. Article X, section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"BOARD OF EDUCATION

Section 2. There shall be a board of education composed of members who shall be elected in a nonpartisan manner by qualified voters, as provided by law, from two at-large school board districts. The first school board district shall be comprised of the island of Oahu and all other islands not specifically enumerated. The second school board district shall be comprised of the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Kauai and Niihau. Each at-large school board district shall be divided into departmental school districts, as may be provided by law. There shall be at least one member residing in each departmental school district[.]; provided that the six at-large members who are elected by all of the voters of the State without regard to residence shall have a background or expertise in at least one of the following areas:

(1) Parenting;

(2) Business;

(3) Health and social services;

(4) Education;

(5) Employer and employee management; and

(6) Financial management.

The Hawaii State Student Council shall select a public high school student to serve as a nonvoting member on the board of education."

SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall six of the at-large members of the board of education be qualified in specialized areas, including education, business, and financial management?"

SECTION 4. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

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