STAND. COM. REP. 353

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 631

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 631 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HAWAIIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education (DOE) for Hawaiian language immersion programs.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted testimony in support of this bill. DOE submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that Hawaiian language immersion programs in the public schools help to fulfill the State's constitutional mandate to promote the study of Hawaiian language, culture, and history. These programs provide students with an invaluable opportunity to excel in general content areas while learning Hawaiian, which, in addition to English, is an official language of the State.

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. 631 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair