HB 730: RELATING TO EDUCATION.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-11
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
730 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that complying with and upholding state and federal civil rights laws is an important responsibility of the department of education.
The legislature further finds that following the December 6, 2018, federal lawsuit filed against the department of education and the Oahu Interscholastic Association involving James Campbell high school, the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education received temporary funding to hire a Title IX specialist for gender equity in athletics. While the incumbent Title IX specialist for gender equity in athletics has already made a statewide impact with the addition of flag football for female athletes, meeting with athletic leagues statewide, garnering support from various stakeholders in the community, and playing a pivotal role in implementing the department of education's gender equity plan statewide, this position is temporary.
Furthermore, the legislature finds that additional staff and funding are needed for the department of education to better comply with and uphold state and federal civil rights laws.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions, as follows:
(1) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) civil rights compliance specialist II (Title IX - gender equity in athletics) whose duties shall include but not be limited to:
(A) Reviewing athletic programs statewide;
(B) Developing and recommending administrative policies and guidelines to achieve compliance with Title IX and nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities, specifically with regard to gender equity in athletics;
(C) Providing guidance and instructions to remedy, achieve, and maintain compliance and non-discriminatory practices on the basis of sex in athletic programs and activities;
(D) Providing technical assistance, information, and guidance to department of education supervisors, including principals, vice principals, and athletic directors; staff; students; parents; and the general public as it pertains to gender equity issues in athletics;
(E) Providing training to equity specialists, athletic directors, coaches, community members and others who may have a legitimate interest in gender equity within the department of education;
(F) Preparing the department of education's official response to state and federal enforcement agencies concerning potential or alleged civil rights violations as they relate to gender equity in athletics; and
(G) Conducting a full range of investigations involving issues related with alleged violations of Title IX policies and procedures as they pertain to gender equity in education programs and services within the department of education; and
(2) Four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) equity specialists II, to serve statewide and be assigned wherever the needs of the department of education are most pressing at any given time, and whose duties shall include but not be limited to:
(A) Acting as the Title IX coordinator for a complex area and accepting complaints relating to discrimination or harassment based on sex or gender;
(B) Assuring compliance with Title IX throughout a complex area and providing guidance to each school's administration relating to compliance under Title IX and any related department of education policies;
(C) Conducting a full range of investigations involving issues dealing with possible violations of civil rights laws, policies, and procedures, including Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX, of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;
(D) Acting as the language access coordinator for a complex area and assuring compliance with Title VI of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, throughout the complex area, which includes providing guidance to each school's administration relating to compliance under Title VI of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and any related department of education policies;
(E) Acting as the reasonable accommodation coordinator for a complex area and working with schools and employees to determine reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities;
(F) Providing guidance to each school's administration relating to compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and any related department of education policies; and
(G) Ensuring that proper technical assistance, coordination, and support is provided to complex area supervisors, principals, vice principals, office staff, career and technical education specialists, and teachers.
(b) For purposes of this section, "Title IX" means Public Law 92-318, Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, as amended.
SECTION 3. 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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education to employ five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) equity specialists as provided in section 2 of this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Department of Education; Civil Rights Compliance; Equity Specialists; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
730 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
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|
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|
|
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||
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|
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
rELATING TO EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that complying with and upholding state and federal civil rights laws is an important responsibility of the department of education.
The legislature further finds that following the December 6, 2018, federal lawsuit filed against the department of education and the Oahu Interscholastic Association involving Campbell high school, the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education received temporary funding to hire a Title IX specialist for gender equity in athletics. While the incumbent Title IX specialist for gender equity in athletics has already made a statewide impact with the addition of flag football for female athletes, meeting with athletic leagues statewide, garnering support from various stakeholders in the community, and playing a pivotal role in implementing the department of education's gender equity plan statewide, this position is temporary.
Furthermore, the legislature finds that additional staff and funding are needed for the department of education to better comply with and uphold state and federal civil rights laws.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the civil compliance branch of the department of education, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions, as follows:
(1) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) civil rights compliance specialist II (Title IX - gender equity in athletics) whose duties shall include but not be limited to:
(A) Reviewing athletic programs statewide;
(B) Developing and recommending administrative policies and guidelines to achieve compliance with Title IX and nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities, specifically with regard to gender equity in athletics;
(C) Providing guidance and instructions to remedy, achieve, and maintain compliance and non-discriminatory practices on the basis of sex in athletic programs and activities;
(D) Providing technical assistance, information, and guidance to department of education supervisors, including principals, vice principals, and athletic directors; staff; students; parents; and the general public as it pertains to gender equity issues in athletics;
(E) Providing training to equity specialists, athletic directors, coaches, community members and others who may have a legitimate interest in gender equity within the department of education;
(F) Preparing the department of education's official response to state and federal enforcement agencies concerning potential or alleged civil rights violations as they relate to gender equity in athletics; and
(G) Conducting a full range of investigations involving issues related with alleged violations of Title IX policies and procedures as they pertain to gender equity in education programs and services within the department of education; and
(2) Four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) equity specialists II, to serve statewide and be assigned wherever the needs of the department of education are most pressing at any given time, and whose duties shall include but not be limited to:
(A) Acting as the Title IX coordinator for a complex area and accepting complaints relating to discrimination or harassment based on sex or gender;
(B) Assuring compliance with Title IX throughout a complex area and providing guidance to each school's administration relating to compliance under Title IX and any related department of education policies;
(C) Conducting a full range of investigations involving issues dealing with possible violations of civil rights laws, policies, and procedures, including Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX, of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;
(D) Acting as the language access coordinator for a complex area and assuring compliance with Title VI of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, throughout the complex area, which includes providing guidance to each school's administration relating to compliance under Title VI of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and any related department of education policies;
(E) Acting as the reasonable accommodation coordinator for a complex area and working with schools and employees to determine reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities;
(F) Providing guidance to each school's administration relating to compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and any related department of education policies; and
(G) Ensuring that proper technical assistance, coordination, and support is provided to complex area supervisors, principals, vice principals, office staff, career and technical education specialists, and teachers.
(b) For purposes of this section, "Title IX" means Public Law 92-318, Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, as amended.
SECTION 3. 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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the civil rights compliance branch of the department of education to employ five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) equity specialists as provided in section 2 of this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
Report Title:
Department of Education; Civil Rights Compliance; Equity Specialists; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3). |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 464) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. |
| Feb 6, 2025 | The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 3, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 02-06-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 2 |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Feb 6, 2025 | The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| AAUW of Hawaiʻi | *** Support | Feb 6, 2025 |
| American Association of University Women of Hawaiʻi | ** Support | |
| Department of Education | ** Support | |
| Fujiwara & Rosenbaum, LLLC | ** Support | |
| Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks! | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 464
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 730
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 730 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Fujiwara & Rosenbaum, LLLC; American Association of University Women of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals.
Your Committee finds that complying with and upholding state and federal civil rights laws is an important responsibility of the Department of Education. Your Committee further finds that additional staff and funding are needed for the Department of Education to better comply with and uphold state and federal civil rights laws.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 730, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 730, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 6, 2025 | HB730_TESTIMONY_EDN_02-06-25_.PDF |
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
