Report Title:

Gifted and Talented Children; Exceptional Children

 

Description:

Amends definition of exceptional children to include gifted and talented children.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1459

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "exceptional children" to read as follows:

     ""Exceptional children" includes:

     (1)  Persons under twenty years of age who deviate from the so-called normal person in physical, mental, social, or emotional characteristics or abilities to such an extent that specialized training, techniques, and equipment are required to enable these persons to attain the maximum of their abilities or capacities; [provided that "exceptional children" shall not include "gifted and talented children";]

     (2)  Persons under twenty years of age who by reason of physical defects cannot attend the regular public school classes with normal children; [and]

     (3)  Persons under twenty years of age who are certified by a licensed physician eligible for membership in the state medical society as being emotionally maladjusted or intellectually incapable of profiting from ordinary instructional methods[.]; and

     (4)  Gifted and talented children."

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-444, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§302A-444[]]  Programs for gifted and talented children.  The department [may] shall provide a statewide flexible system of educational placement and programs within the public school system that the department determines is appropriate for meeting the unique educational needs of gifted and talented children.  The nature and scope of the department's educational placement and programs shall be based on, but not be limited to, the following factors:

     (1)  The availability of financial and physical resources within the department;

     (2)  The nature of the child's gift or talent; and

     (3)  Whether the child's educational placement and program should focus on, or be limited to, a particular area of gift or talent, or whether the educational placement and program should address other areas that may be beneficial to the development of the child as a whole."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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