STAND. COM. REP. NO.  465

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 812

      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. 812 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds to the Department of Education to establish a three-year pilot program to develop a trauma-informed education program in the Castle, Kailua, and Kalaheo complexes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network; HawaiiKidsCAN; Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Primary Care Association; and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that incorporating trauma-informed education in the State's public education system will help to address adverse childhood experiences and shift the mindset of schools from discipline-oriented to relationship-oriented and from exclusionary practices to inclusionary practices, which can help reduce suspension rates.  In the Nanakuli-Waianae complex area, trauma-informed education has been incorporated into its schools and, since 2015, this complex area has seen a reduction in the suspension and absenteeism rates and an increase in graduation and teacher retention rates.  This measure will establish a three-year pilot program to develop a similar trauma-informed education program in the Castle, Kailua, and Kalaheo complexes to reduce violence and absenteeism and help students to improve in their academic performance.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 812, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 812, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair