STAND. COM. REP. NO. 54

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 616

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 616 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require that each public school has a part-time or full-time library;

 

     (2)  Require the Department of Education to develop a plan to ensure that each school has a part-time or full-time library; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate monies to the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and twelve individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that a close and thorough experience with libraries is critically important to the growth and development of Hawaii's students.  Some books that students might need are not available in a digital format, and some students lack the resources to purchase all the books that they require.  Your Committee further finds that many students in rural areas lack access to libraries, and some students enter high school with no library experience whatsoever.

 

     This measure will provide funding for the Department of Education to develop a plan to ensure all students have access to a part-time or full-time library at their school.

 

     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 S.B. No. 616 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair