STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1699

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 515

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 515, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Auditor to audit the Department of Education's School Food Services Branch to determine the amount of local produce that is currently purchased and served to students.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.

 

     Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee made available for public review a proposed Senate Draft No. 2 (Proposed Draft) of this measure.  The Proposed Draft amends the measure by:

 

     (1)  Designating the existing substantive provisions of the measure as part I;

 

     (2)  Inserting a new part II to the measure, which incorporates the substantive provisions of S.B. No. 76, S.D. 2, which, with respect to the position of the Superintendent of Education:

 

          (A)  Requires the Board of Education to prioritize for the position those candidates having a minimum qualification of ten years of employment in a department of education, including no less than five years serving as a principal or in a higher‑level position; and

 

          (B)  Specifies that a working understanding of the State's tri-level systems of educational administration shall be a desired qualification for a candidate for the position; and

 

     (3)  Making technical amendments.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of part I of the Proposed Draft from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Ulupono Initiative.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the Proposed Draft from the Board of Education.

 

     Your Committee received comments on the Proposed Draft from the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that more locally sourced foods should be served in the Department of Education's school meal programs.  Your Committee believes that requiring the Auditor to determine a baseline will assist the Department in achieving this goal.

 

     Your Committee also finds that because Hawaii has a statewide public education system, unlike other states, the Department of Education should be led by an official having relevant qualifications and experience within tri-level systems of educational administration.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the Proposed Draft and making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 515, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 515, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair