STAND. COM. REP. NO. 673

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 811

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 811 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 Department of Education to publish a weekly report on schools that have reported positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that although the Department of Education has stated that it has communication policies and set procedures in place to address COVID-19 cases, it generally has not provided information about positive COVID-19 test result cases on all school campuses and the limited information that it has shared has been inconsistent and incomplete.  Your Committee further finds, in particular, that the Department of Education does not publicize positive COVID-19 cases listed by school.  This measure will require that the Department of Education reports positive COVID-19 cases, which will allow students, teachers, and communities to make informed decisions on how to proceed.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 811 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair