STAND. COM. REP. NO.  460

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 546

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 546 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the composition of the Early Learning Board to make a representative from Aha Punana Leo a standing member.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Aha Punana Leo, Kupuna for the Moopuna, Ke Kula O Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki Lab Public Charter School, Punana Leo o Hilo, Association of Hawaiian Civics Club and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Early Learning Board.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Exeuctive Office on Early Learning Board.

 

     Your Committee finds that Aha Punana Leo is currently the only provider of Hawaiian imersion statewide that offers programs to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and that, to date, the Hawaiian medium early learning provider seat on the Early Learning Board has been filled by a representative of Aha Punana Leo.  Your Committee further finds that the Hawaiian medium early learning provider seat is limited to two consecutive, two-year terms.  Other provisions of state law prevent the Aha Punana Leo representative from serving more than two consecutive terms, which makes it difficult for the board member to develop and maintain the institutional knowledge and relationships that are necessary to ensure effective advocacy.  This measure will remove the Hawaiian medium early learning provider seat and in its place establish the chief executive officer of Aha Punana Leo, or the chief executive officer's designee, as a voting member on the Early Learning Board.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 546, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 546, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair