STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2323

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2571

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2571 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Board of Education Candidate Nomination Commission to nominate candidates for the Board of Education to be appointed by the Governor.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two private organizations.  Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by one private organization.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by three state agencies.  Comments were submitted by one private organization.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the nomination and appointment process identified in this measure will increase the Board of Education's accountability for matters relating to public education in Hawaii.  Your Committee also finds that the use of a Board of Education Candidate Nomination Commission will produce a number of well-qualified candidates that will help the Board of Education make important policies guiding the State's public school system.

 

     Your Committee also finds that the student member on the Board of Education adds a unique perspective to the Board and enhances the Board's understanding and knowledge of issues addressed by the Board.  Your Committee finds that the student member should be given voting privileges to appropriately reflect and honor the student member's contributions to the Board.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding a provision to authorize the Board of Education student member to vote on all matters before the Board, except for those matters relating to fiscal and personnel issues, to take effect only upon ratification of an appropriate constitutional amendment;

 

     (2)  Amending the criteria for the member of the Board of Education Candidate Nomination Commission who shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Hawaii State Student Council; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2571, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2571, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair