Hawaii-2024-SB2052-Introduced

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that civic engagement provides an opportunity for residents to become involved with improving their local communities and neighborhoods. In 2021, the Hawaii supreme court enacted Rule 23 to establish the commission to promote and advance civic education (PACE commission). One of the main functions of the PACE commission is to provide leadership, oversight, and initiatives to increase civic education in the community and at schools, increase citizens' knowledge about government, and promote informed participation in government and democracy in the State.

The legislature further finds that the public access room, an office under the legislative reference bureau, provides the public with information, equipment, facilities, and services to assist in research activities, educational outreach, and public engagement related to work with the legislature. The legislature additionally finds that the public access room is well-positioned to further civic engagement between the legislature and students in the State through educational partnerships, such as the Hawaii P-20 partnerships for education. However, the public access room currently lacks resources to provide outreach services beyond its current efforts.

In addition, the legislature finds that civic education prepares students to participate in the public and political lives of their communities. Teaching students about the importance of civic engagement through civic education helps develop critical thinking skills that are vital to the functioning of a democratic nation, including how to recognize social problems, evaluate possible solutions to problems, separate evidence-based claims from opinions, and act upon what is learned.

The legislature further finds that according to the US Elections Project, in the 2022 general election, forty-four states had a higher voter turnout percentage than Hawaii. The legislature also finds that cultivating social and political engagement among students through civic education is an important strategy to increase voter turnout and citizen engagement over the long term.

The legislature additionally finds that in 2018, the board of education adopted the Hawaii core standards in social studies. These core standards outline the content, concepts, and inquiry skills students need to reason, wonder, and think about the vastness and richness of the human condition. The Hawaii core standards in social studies also integrate and encompass the democratic values, civility, and global perspective needed to support the development of critical thinking and habits of mind that are the hallmark of a mature, community-minded citizen. The standards are also premised upon a rigorous and relevant K-12 social studies experience. However, the legislature finds that the department of education has not engaged in systematic teacher training on the new standards or addressed the paucity of culturally appropriate materials for historical and civic education.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the public access room to establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education and provide funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to assist in effectuating this requirement;

(2) Require the department of education and university of Hawaii to assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the public access room with respect to the outreach and engagement program;

(3) Establish and fund two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher positions within the department of education; and

(4) Appropriate funds to the department of education to increase access to civic education in Hawaii's public school system.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Coordination with the public access room; outreach and engagement. The department shall assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the public access room with respect to the outreach and engagement program described in section 21G-2(a)."

SECTION 3. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart G, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304A- Coordination with the public access room; outreach and engagement. The university shall assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the public access room with respect to the outreach and engagement program described in section 21G-2(a)."

SECTION 4. Section 21G-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established in the state capitol a public access room in which members of the public shall be allowed to utilize various equipment, services, and facilities to enhance their ability to participate in the legislative process. As part of its duties, the public access room shall establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education."

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position within the public access room.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the legislative reference bureau for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the expansion of civic education in public schools, including professional development and classroom resources related to the Hawaii core standards in social studies, and the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher positions.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 7. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriations contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriations made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriations made in this Act meet the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 8. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2052
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII