STAND. COM. REP. NO. 903

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 30

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 30 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON CONVERTING HARD COVER TEXT BOOKS TO E-BOOKS FOR USE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to:

 

     (1)  Conduct a feasibility study on converting hard cover text books to e-books for use in public schools, including considerations of cost and computer accessibility; and

 

     (2)  Report its findings and recommendations, including cost estimates, to the 2010 Legislature.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two state agencies and one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that e-books offer many advantages for students.  E-books may be easily updated and documents can be stored and read utilizing multiple technologies such as laptops, pocket computers, and e-book reading devices.  In addition, e‑books will support the implementation efforts of the Hawaii Virtual Learning Network (HVLN), a statewide online learning program for students, by providing students in remote areas access to high quality content.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 30 and recommends its adoption.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair