LEGISLATURE 2003 STATUS REPORT
Education/Social services

Advertiser Staff

Lawmakers closed the 2003 legislative session Thursday after taking action on hundreds of bills. Here are many of the more significant bills.

Bills that passed will be sent to Gov. Linda Lingle for signature or veto. Lawmakers can override a veto by a two-thirds vote of each house.

School reform
(HB 289 HD2 SD2 CD1)

Establishes 15 complex areas tasked with "administrative support and organizational purposes" for schools within their respective geographic regions.

Textbook fees
(HB32 HD2 SD2 CD1)

Authorizes schools to collect annual textbook and instructional materials fees of up to $20 per student.

Leave for victims
(SB 931 SD2 HD2 CD1)

Entitles domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims to paid or unpaid employment leave.

Caregiver's consent
(SB 946 HD2 CD1)

Allows a caregiver of a minor who lives with the minor to execute an affidavit of caregiver consent to enroll the minor in school and allow the minor to participate in curricular and co-curricular activities. Provides that a caregiver who makes false statements in the affidavit shall be subject to criminal penalties.

Child protection
(HB 133 HD1 SD3 CD1)

Provides immunity from prosecution for leaving an unharmed newborn at a hospital within 72 hours of birth. Provides immunity from liability for hospitals and their personnel for receiving a newborn.

Tax write-off
(HB 638 HD1 SD2 CD1)

Provides a check-off box on state individual income tax returns to allow the public to support the Hawai'i state public library system. Allows the state library system to use donated money to support library operations.

Minimum kindergarten age

Requires children to be 5 years old before Aug. 1 beginning in the 2005-06 school year. Current law requires children to reach their fifth birthday by Dec. 31 of the school year. Would also require the state Department of Education to offer appropriate educational services for those children born after Aug. 1.

Local school boards

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

Abolish principals' union

Removes 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

Makes 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 join unions.

Student board member

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.

Truancy fines

Allows 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.

Student drug-testing

Establishes 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.

Adoption tax credit

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