Bill Text: HI SB2217 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Dyslexia; Task Force

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-12 - (S) Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2217 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2217-Amended.html

---

 

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2228

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2217

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2217 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to:

 

     (1)  Make technical assistance and training to support students with dyslexia available to teachers, educational officers, and employees providing instruction or special services for exceptional children; and

 

     (2)  Coordinate technical assistance and training efforts with teacher preparation programs in institutions of higher learning in the State.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by three private organizations and six individuals.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure provides support for students with dyslexia by improving awareness and training for teachers, educational officers, and employees who, with the additional training, may better identify dyslexia and provide the appropriate encouragement and treatment for students with dyslexia.

 

     However, your Committee has also heard the concerns expressed by the Department of Education and has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the provisions requiring the Department of Education to provide technical assistance and training to teachers, educational officers, and employees to support students with dyslexia;

 

     (2)  Removing the provisions requiring the Department of Education to coordinate technical assistance and training efforts with teacher preparation programs in institutions of higher learning in the State; and instead

 

     (3)  Establishing a task force to develop a comprehensive policy to improve awareness of and strengthen support for persons with dyslexia, in hopes that the comprehensive policy will expand into a comprehensive statewide plan in the future.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2217, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2217, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Housing,

 

		____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair