HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

546

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature recognizes the importance of reviving and teaching the Hawaiian language.  Olelo Hawaii has been one of the State's official languages since 1978.  Aha Punana Leo was established by Native Hawaiian educators in 1983 to help lead these language revitalization efforts.  As the State's only Olelo Hawaii immersion program for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, Aha Punana Leo is critical to creating new generations of native speakers.

     The legislature finds that Aha Punana Leo should have a voice in shaping the education of Hawaii's keiki.  Currently, while the program has representation on the State's early learning board as a Hawaiian medium early learning provider, the position is limited to short, two-year terms.  Other provisions of state law prevent the Aha Punana Leo representative from serving more than two consecutive terms.  These term limits make it difficult for the board member to develop and maintain the institutional knowledge and relationships that are necessary to ensure effective advocacy.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the composition of the early learning board to make a representative of Aha Punana Leo a standing member.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302L-1.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The board shall consist of the following voting members:

     (1)  A representative of center-based program providers or the representative's designee;

     (2)  A representative of family child care program providers;

     (3)  A representative of family-child interaction learning program providers;

     (4)  A representative of philanthropic organizations that support early learning or the representative's designee;

     (5)  A representative from a head start provider agency;

     (6)  A representative from the Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council;

     (7)  A parent representative;

     (8)  A representative from the Hawaii chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;

     (9)  A representative of home-visiting program providers; and

   [(10)  A representative of Hawaiian medium early learning providers; and

    (11)] (10)  A representative of the Hawaii Council of Mayors, or the representative's designee.

     The superintendent of education, director of human services, director of health, and president of the University of Hawaii shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board.

     The board shall invite the chief executive officer of Kamehameha Schools [and], the executive director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and the chief executive officer of Aha Punana Leo, or their designees, to serve as voting members of the board.

     (c)  Except for the superintendent of education, directors of state departments, president of the University of Hawaii, chief executive officer of Kamehameha Schools, [and the] executive director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and chief executive officer of Aha Punana Leo, or their designees, the members of the board shall serve staggered terms as follows:

     (1)  The representative of center-based program providers shall serve a two-year term;

     (2)  The representative of family child care program providers shall serve a three-year term;

     (3)  The representative of family-child interaction learning program providers shall serve a three-year term;

     (4)  The representative of philanthropic organizations that support early learning shall serve a two-year term;

     (5)  The representative from a head start provider agency shall serve a three-year term;

     (6)  The representative from the Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council shall serve a three-year term;

     (7)  The parent representative shall serve a two-year term;

     (8)  The representative from the Hawaii chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics shall serve a two-year term;

     (9)  The representative of home-visiting program providers shall serve a three-year term; and

   [(10)  The representative of Hawaiian medium early learning providers shall serve a two-year term; and

    (11)] (10)  The representative of the Hawaii Council of Mayors shall serve a three-year term."

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2031; provided that section 302L‑1.6(b) and (c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of this Act.



 

Report Title:

Aha Punana Leo; Olelo Hawaii; Early Learning Board

 

Description:

Amends the composition of the early learning board to make a representative from Aha Punana Leo a standing member.  Sunsets on 6/30/2031.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (HD2)

 

 

 

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