STAND. COM. REP. NO.  156

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 225

      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. 225 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BULLYING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require the Board of Education to develop a bullying prevention and response action plan;

 

     (2)  Require the Board of Education, or the Department of Education as the Board's designee, to submit an annual report to the Legislature on the action plan and reported incidents of alleged bullying and harassment; and

 

     (3)  Repeal Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011, which required the Board of Education to monitor the Department of Education for compliance with any Department administrative rules or statutes governing bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment.


     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Education and Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Board of Education advocates for safe learning environments that ensure the wellbeing of students and recognizes bullying as a severe issue.  Furthermore, the Department of Education fosters positive and safe learning environments for all students and staff by creating a culture of respect, responsibility, and resiliency.  This measure will help the Board and Department in responding to and preventing bullying in public schools.

 

     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. 225, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 225, 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