STAND. COM. REP. NO.  431-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2149

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2149 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL SPORTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow home-schooled, high school-age students to participate as unattached competitors in individual sports available to the public school that the student would otherwise be required to attend.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Tropic Lightning Diving Team and thirteen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that home-schooled students are part of the diverse fabric that make up our educational system in Hawaii.  In 2016, nearly three thousand students in Hawaii were home‑schooled.  Under Hawaii law, home-schooled students do not have the right to participate in public school activities, including sports.  Although individual schools and complex areas have the authority to allow home‑schooled students to participate in its activities, policies vary.  Your Committee further finds that it is imperative for Hawaii to ensure that all home‑schooled students have equitable opportunities to succeed.  This measure works toward equity in education by allowing home-schooled, high school-age students to participate in individual sports as unattached athletes.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the home-schooled, high school-age student to maintain the appropriate grade point average as required by the public school that the student would otherwise attend to be allowed to participate as an unattached competitor in any individual sport at athletic events sanctioned by an educational athletic organization; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2149, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2149, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair