STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1385

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 105

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 105 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR PARENT CLIENTS TO TURN ON CLOSED CAPTIONING WHEN THEIR CHILDREN WATCH TELEVISION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to urge public and private agencies to encourage their parent clients to turn on closed captioning when their children watch television.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one individual.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by the Department of Education.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that closed captioning has the ability to enhance vocabulary, reading speed, word association, and spelling.  Your Committee understands that closed captioning is not accurate one hundred per cent of the time and certain style preferences used in closed captioning are different than those used in school writing classes, however, your Committee believes the merits outweigh these concerns.  Adults can benefit from reading the closed captioning on television, as it helps a reader develop English skills and identify errors in spelling, which is a rapid brain problem solving skill.  Television is becoming a large part of the family dynamic, and by using closed captioning the television can become a tool to help both adults and children improve their reading skills.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 105, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 105, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair