Legislative News
Mahalo to Voting Members who gave feedback on the last vote. The Coalition supported SB2806/HB1672 on the Superintendent's Salary. For SB2423 on gifts and charitable donations, feedback from voting members prompted us to not take a position but to offer comments to the bill. Testimony is listed below in the respective bill's positions. If you should have comments or questions about the below bills or the vetting process, please e-mail cheri@heecoalition.org.
There is another prospective voting item for review, which is supporting the consideration and confirmation of Grant Chun to the Board of Education. Please see Grant Chun's bio here. There are two Governor's Messages for Grant Chun, GM506, to 6/30/2014 and GM507, to 6/30/2017. The reason for two messages is that Mr. Chun is completing the term of former Maui Member Wesley Lo. The hearing for GM506 and GM507 will take place on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 1:15 pm so we will be asking voting members for a vote prior to the hearing.
The list below is an update of bills that the Coalition is taking a position on, or bills that members have expressed interest in following. We have removed some of the bills which are likely not to be heard by the education committees. We encourage members to participate by giving oral testimony on behalf of the Coalition or providing testimony on behalf of their own organizations. Sometimes hearings overlap so it would be great to have members testify on behalf of the Coalition. Please join us by getting involved in the legislative process! If you should need help with submitting testimony, please let us know.
Please view Senator Tokuda's recent "Updater" lists for Senate bills here, House bills here, and Hearing Notices here.
HE'E TRACKING OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS AS OF JANUARY 31, 2014
Any bill status can be looked up on http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
To submit testimony, please see instructions on Capitol webpage here.
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Hearing Date
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Bill
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Description
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Remarks
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATED TO EARLY LEARNING. Authorizes the executive office on early learning to enter into agreements with the department of education and charter schools for use of vacant or underutilized classrooms as public preschool classrooms. Makes an appropriation.
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2/3/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Gabbard, Ruderman, Slom; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATED TO EARLY LEARNING. Authorizes the executive office on early learning to enter into agreements with the department of education and charter schools for use of vacant or underutilized classrooms as public preschool classrooms. Makes an appropriation.
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2/7/2014 S Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2112) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
2/7/2014 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
Establishes the Early Childhood Education Program within the Early Learning System established by section 302L-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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2/7/2014 S Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2112) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
2/7/2014 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
Establishes the Early Childhood Education Program within the Early Learning System established by section 302L-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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2/5/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Aquino, Awana, Choy, Ichiyama, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Fale; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hanohano, Say, Takai.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING. Makes an appropriation for the executive office on early learning to enter into contracts with third party providers for family child interaction learning programs.
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2/7/2014 S Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2113) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
2/7/2014 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
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HE'E Position:
Support
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RELATING TO KINDERGARTEN. Amends the compulsory education law to make kindergarten mandatory.
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1/29/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani, Ruderman; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Slom.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO KINDERGARTEN. Amends the compulsory education law to make kindergarten mandatory. Makes transition to kindergarten a directive for the early learning system.
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2/5/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Aquino, Awana, Choy, Ichiyama, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Fale; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hanohano, Say, Takai.
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Position: Oppose with amendments |
RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires all public secondary schools to implement a school year that includes nine hundred ninety student instructional hours beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Repeals the requirement that by the 2016-2018 school years, all public schools implement a school year of one hundred eighty days and one thousand eighty student instructional hours for both elementary and secondary school grades. Clarifies that the definition of "student instructional hours" shall be determined by the board of education.
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2/5/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani, Ruderman; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Slom.
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Position: Oppose with amendments
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Requires all public secondary schools to implement a school year that includes nine hundred ninety student instructional hours beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Repeals the requirement that by the 2016-2018 school years, all public schools implement a school year of one hundred eighty days and one thousand eighty student instructional hours for both elementary and secondary school grades. Clarifies that the definition of "student instructional hours" shall be determined by the board of education.
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2/3/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Awana, Choy, Ichiyama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Aquino, Matsumoto; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Hanohano, Say, Fale; and 1 Excused:Representative(s) Takai.
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HE'E Position: Support
HE'E Testimony Forthcoming |
RELATING TO AIR CONDITIONING IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. FACILITIES. Requires DOE and DAGS to develop a cooling master strategy and comprehensive study for the public schools and to report its findings to the 2015 regular session of the legislature. Appropriates funds.
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1/27/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani, Gabbard, Ruderman, Slom; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO AIR CONDITIONING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Appropriates $25,000,000 to the Department of Education for the design and construction of electrical upgrades and installation of air conditioning units in public school classrooms, beginning with those priority schools identified by the Department. Effective July 1, 2014.
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2/3/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Aquino, Awana, Choy, Hanohano, Ichiyama, Say, Matsumoto, Fale; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Takai.
2/10/2014 H Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 253-14), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
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HE'E Position: Comments only
HE'E Comments |
RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires the Board of Education to develop and the Department of Education to implement a pilot program to assist students in achieving annual goals under the Common Core State Standards. Requires the Board of Education to provide web-based data and information aimed at improving student outcomes. Effective July 1, 2014.
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2/3/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Aquino, Awana, Choy, Ichiyama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hanohano, Say, Matsumoto; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Fale; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Takai.
2/10/2014 H Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 250-14), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
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HE'E Position: Strong Support
| RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires the department of education to administer the youth risk behavior survey to all public school and charter school students in odd-numbered years for grades six to twelve. Requires all private schools to administer the youth risk behavior survey to all students in odd-numbered years for grades six to twelve. Allows parents or legal guardians to exempt their child from participating in the survey.
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1/29/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Awana, Choy, Hanohano, Ichiyama, Matsumoto, Fale; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Aquino, Say, Takai
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HE'E Position: Support
| RELATING TO YOUTH. Establishes the resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health (R.E.A.C.H.) program in the office of youth services to provide a standardized framework and funding for after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools. Establishes a revolving fund to receive fees and other moneys to supplement the costs of administering and operating the program. Appropriates funds for establishing the R.E.A.C.H. program to provide funding for after-school programs in middle and intermediate public schools. Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to support the program and appropriates funds for that position.
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2/5/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani, Gabbard; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ruderman, Slom.
2/5/2014 S The committee(s) on HMS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HMS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chun Oakland, Kidani, Taniguchi; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Green, Slom.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO YOUTH. Establishes the resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health (R.E.A.C.H.) program in the office of youth services to
provide a standardized framework and funding for after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools. Establishes a revolving fund to receive fees and other moneys to supplement the costs of administering and operating the program. Appropriates funds for
establishing the R.E.A.C.H. program to provide funding for after-school programs in middle and intermediate public schools. Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to support the program and appropriates funds for that position.
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2/5/2014 H The committees on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Aquino, Awana, Choy, Ichiyama, Matsumoto, Fale; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hanohano, Say, Takai.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY. Adjusts the salary cap of the Superintendent of Education.
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2/7/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in EDU were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Slom; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Ruderman.
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HE'E Position: Support
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RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY. Adjusts the salary cap of the Superintendent of Education.
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2/7/2014 H The committees on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Nakashima, Yamashita, Aquino, Ichiyama, Takayama, Ing, Takumi, Johanson; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Yamane.
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EDU 414 2/19/2014 1:15 PM View
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Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Education, Gubernatorial Nominee, GRANT CHUN, for a term to expire 6-30-2017.
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HE'E Position: Comments Only
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RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Authorizes the department of education to accept gifts or donations based on criteria established by the board of education. Allows schools and classes to participate in fundraising or charitable activities, in conjunction with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, based on criteria established by the board of education.
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2/7/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani, Slom; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Ruderman.
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EDN 309 2/10/2014 2:00 PM View
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RELATING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. Establishes and funds the Fun 5 Program within the A+ Program in Hawaii's public elementary schools. Appropriation. Effective July 1, 2014.
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2/7/2014 H Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Monday, 02-10-14 2:00PM in House conference room 309.
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RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. Requires the board of education to allow public testimony on items not on a public meeting agenda if certain requirements are met.
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2/7/2014 S The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Kidani, Slom; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Ruderman.
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HE'E meeting notes posted on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-meeting-notes/
HE'E email archives on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-email-newsletter-archive
