LEGISLATURE 2003 STATUS REPORT
Education/Social services

Here are many of the major bills under consideration at the Legislature. Listing which bills are passing and which are failing halfway through the legislative session is risky.

Failing bills can be revived, living bills can be rewritten, and key lawmakers can change their minds.

This listing of bills is an effort to show readers where issues appear to be headed. Public participation and lobbying can change the outcome of any issue listed here.

Minimum kindergarten age
(SB 17 SD1)

Would require children to be 5 years old before Oct. 16 for the 2005-06 school year and before Aug. 1 beginning in the 2006-07 school year. Current law requires children to reach their fifth birthday by Dec. 31 of the school year. Would also offer preschool for children affected by the changes "within available resources."

Truancy fines
(HB 277 HD1)

Would allow school officials to require parents of truant students to perform up to 50 hours of community service at their child's school or attendance at social service programs. Would require continually truant students to perform detention of up to 50 hours or be barred from participating in extra-curricular activities for up to 50 days.

School reform
(HB 289 HD2, SB 667 SD2)

House bill would create 15 "complex area school councils" that would prioritize construction and repair projects and make other decisions about campuses in its respective "complex" of geographically-grouped schools. Each seven-member council would be appointed by the Board of Education and be required to include at least one student, one parent and one teacher.

Senate version would create seven regional education agencies to prioritize repairs and maintenance and plan and implement educational services. The agencies would be governed by boards of directors appointed by the governor, and would be administered by regional superintendents who would be appointed by the boards.

Student board member
(SB 1002)

Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to allow the student member of the Board of Education to vote, except on issues relating to personnel or fiscal matters.

Rehiring retirees
(SB 14 SD1)

Allows the rehiring of retired state Department of Education administrators as principals and vice-principals without the penalty to retirement. Retirees must have been retired for at least a year before getting rehired.

Caregiver's consent
(SB 946)

Allows a caregiver to execute an affidavit of caregiver consent to enroll the minor in school and allow full participation in curricular and co-curricular activities.

Victims' unemployment
(SB 936 SD1)

Entitles domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims to unemployment benefits.

Child protection
(HB 133 HD1)

Provides immunity from prosecution for leaving an unharmed newborn at a hospital.

Student drug-testing

Would establish a drug-testing pilot project at several public high schools, making the tests mandatory for students who participate in school athletic activities or "physically strenuous" co-curricular activities.

Local school boards

Would propose a constitutional amendment and ballot question asking voters to allow the creation of at least seven elected district school boards.

Abolish principals' union

Would remove school principals from their union, the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, allowing a school board or statewide board to fire principals if they do not meet certain performance requirements set by the board.

Charter school employees

Would make charter school workers employees of the charter school board rather than the state, although they could choose to participate in state benefits. Would take charter school employees out of their unions, but would allow them to either form their own union or let them join unions.

Adoption tax credit

Establishes a tax credit for the qualified adoption expenses incurred in efforts to adopt a child.