STAND. COM. REP. NO.  692-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1814

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1814, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide a safe learning environment for students by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Education to report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018 regarding the Department's progress and expenditure of funds to comply with statutory requirements prohibiting physical punishment of students and limiting the use of seclusion and chemical, mechanical, or physical restraint of students; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for fiscal year 2016-2017 to fund a full-time equivalent position (1.0 FTE) to provide training and data accountability to assist with the effective implementation of such statutory prohibitions and limits.

The Department of Education, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Special Education Advisory Council, and one individual testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Disability Rights Center and one individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1814, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair