House Standing Committee on Education

Aloha and good afternoon. Welcome to your joint committees on Education and Higher Education. Today's date is March 20th and we are here in Committee room 309.

It is 2:04pm and we are going to start our Joint Hearing with one item taking up in tandem, HCR 75, HR 67, requesting the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to assess the criteria required to establish an educational pipeline and curriculum to ensure that students acquire the necessary skills in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.

So first up, we have Department of Education in person.

Good afternoon. Chair Woodson, Vice Chair Lachica, Chair Garrett and Vice Chair Amato. I'm Terry Ushijima, Assistant Superintendent from the Office of Curriculum Instruction Design, testifying on behalf of the Department. The Department stands on its written testimony which provides comments on this measure. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Next we have University of Hawaii in support, in person.

Good afternoon, Chair. Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Deborah Halbert, Vice President for Academic Strategy for the UH System.

We stand in support of the resolution and I will just highlight that we have made mentioned some of the degrees we offer both at the community colleges and at the four years that seem to be relevant to this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you. We have Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, HEDC in support, in person.

Good morning, Chair. Good afternoon, Chairs.

And support. Thank you. We also have testimony from Military Affairs Council in support and one individual in support. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on these resolutions in person or on Zoom Seeing? None. Members, any questions? Yes, please go ahead. Chair.

Thank you for being here.

Yes.

So I know that cybersecurity is not a discipline that's required obviously within the DOE curricula, but the Department does at times encourage like cyber security competitions. What do you do for the various communities to encourage or let people know that that's an opportunity?

If there is proper synergy within a community, there's an educator that wants to take it on in their student interests.

So I'm, I just want to understand the question. So you're asking how we work with the different school communities to promote cyber security learning opportunities for students?

Yes, if there's an interest.

I think if there's an interest, it starts at the schools and usually they connect with partners. Sometimes if for any type of STEM related initiative, they might contact our office as well and we would work with schools.

Do you provide funding support if there's. Additional funding support that's needed? Not per the cas. Is the CAS levels?

I'm not sure exactly. From our office in particular, we do not have separate funding to, to put on some of those. Although we do computer science conferences and within that there's different topics that are related and our cte, our CTE programs, I think they have opportunities to share with each other.

Thank you. Thank you Members.

Any other questions? I do have a question for uh, please. Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. Thanks for being here. If you can just share, expound a little bit on what you've wrote in your testimony. And I know manufacturing is mentioned, but what are your thoughts on currently?

Maybe what's how it both, you know, could be improved? I think manufacturing. Maybe there's more that could be done around in that area too.

Right. As you might have noticed, many of the programs we highlighted were cybersecurity technology related and we did spend some time trying to understand what was meant in the manufacturing piece. Obviously some of this is.

I don't think they quite go together.

Yeah, they're not. Yeah, not together. But advanced manufacturing, as we were thinking through what was intended, had more to do with C3D printing, potentially new innovative kinds of ideas.

So I would highlight the material sciences component that is though both sort of an interdisciplinary component at uh, MNOA that does look to innovative ways that we could be engaged in applied sciences. And that is a. In it's a beginning kind of project at mnoa.

One thing that's not in the testimony that I was learning about just yesterday is a new effort by the School of Business as well as our research and innovation folks to integrate entrepreneurial kinds of processes throughout their curriculum. And I could see that having an overlay with an advanced manufacturing kind of component as well.

And MANOA does also have a lab where students can, through the College of Education Engineering, sorry, not education, engage with interactions with 3D printing and those types of things. But I don't know the degree to which it leads to a degree per se.

So there's a lot happening, but I don't think it's bubbled up to this to where I think you're interested right now in terms of degrees.

And you mentioned your work with P20. If you can just share how you work with them as well as with Department of Education to identify pathways entering the workforce.

So one of the best things about P20 is that it creates this space between the K through 12 system and the higher education system where we convene regularly and we talk and discuss different aspects of the student success pathways.

And so P20 has been developing different pathways in a very, very refined and detailed way so we can all understand the pathways between the high schools and the four year campuses and I don't know when our next meeting is. It's coming up pretty soon I think.

So we are regularly in touch with each other and we can certainly add additional kinds of pathways to that work.

Okay, thank you. Yeah, thank you so much. Members, any other questions? Seeing none. We are going to recess this agenda convening the Committee on Education for this. It is where's my 2:12 pm and we are in room 309 and it is March 20th.

We are going to continue on with the rest of the agenda taking up resolutions in tandem. Next up, we have HCR 46 HR 39 requesting the Department of Education to make available recreational facilities to the public during non peak hours and non school days. First up we have Department of Education offering comments.

Good afternoon Chair Vice Chair Dean Uchida, Deputy Superintendent with Department of Education. The Department stands on its written testimony which provides comments on this measure. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Hollow Deputy. Next we have Attorney General in opposition in person.

Good afternoon Chair Woodson, Vice Chair La Chica, Members, Anne Horiuchi Department of the Attorney General. Respectfully the Department opposes these resolutions. We're concerned that opening public school recreational facilities for unrestricted public use without legal safeguards may expose the Department of Education to substantial liability for injuries or worse.

The resolutions pose liability and cost issues and without legal safeguards these liability and cost issues may make the actions called for by the resolutions a significant risk for legal and financial liability accruing to the state. Thank you for the opportunity to testify and I'll be available for questions. Thank you.

I believe that's all I have on my testifier list is there we have four other individuals offering testimony in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on this on these resolutions in person or on Zoom?

Seeing none, Members any questions? Just Department if you can just share kind of your current policy on the school facilities and how the public is able to access are able to access those facilities.

Okay.

Yeah, we have a use of facilities agreement and it comes in different categories and it allows for government organizations, nonprofits to use the facility and depending on the activity that's being proposed we issue an agreement which contains a lot of what the AG talked about insurance liability, which is different criteria depending on the activity that's being proposed, liability waiver, indemnification and certificate of insurance just to name a few.

So the document is pretty comprehensive and it's intended to protect the school from liability when different organizations use the facilities.

Thank you. And I know, this is a, Attorney General did submit an opposition, it's really about the potential liability. I did introduce this measure as a companion to a Senate resolution, but this is really for a lot of the, you know, underserved communities that don't have access to a lot of public facilities, where often. Right? They don't.

There's no recreational facilities or there's just no county facilities that's available to them, or they're often taken by those organized sports groups available. So have you been able to kind of, have you ever experienced working with some of those groups that have said, like, can we have some sort of joint use agreement?

Or have you heard about some of those types of requests?

I think we're open to it. If a large organization. They're a liability though right? Wants to take it over and then allow for their Members to use it, I think we'll be open to that. We're also concerned about vandalism. You know, we get new playground equipment and I think that's why it's fenced in a lot of cases.

So there's always different issues when you just open it up to the public with no restrictions. Right.

Okay, thank you deputy Members. Any other questions? Okay, seeing none. Let's move on to the next item. HC86, HR80 requesting the Department of Education to establish an Aloha Civics Working Group to enhance civics education in Hawaii. We have Department of Education offering comments.

Aloha Chairs, Vice Chairs and Members of the Committee. Terry Ushijima, Assistant Superintendent, testifying on behalf of the Department of Education. The Department stands on its written testimony which provides comments. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Next we have Hawaii state LGBTQ + Commission offering testimony and support not present. We have Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus in support and Members. That's all I have for this measure. Any. Is there anyone else wishing to testify? Yes, Cameron, please come up.

Thank you. I submitted my testimony at like 1240, so it may just be in a later one, but. But if you guys need me to resubmit it, please let me know. Cameron Hurt. I'm here today as State Director of Common Cause Hawaii. We are in full support of this measure.

Currently we have five Common Cause schools where we're doing different things and these are elementary schools to high schools or different things where kids are using ranked choice voting to determine their prom king and queen to where third graders are coming up with classroom constitutions instead of classroom norms. This can be done.

It can be done with an effective pricing too, without breaking the bank.

We just need people who want to be innovators and really engage our students at the very beginning with what it means to participate in democracy and how it's literally affecting them from the time their parents are saying, hey, you got to wash dishes and there's no talking back because it's benevolent dictatorship to when they get older.

And we can talk about that. And we'll talk about how we can make your chores work with everything you've got. So just different ways to approach it. And we think that it is so necessary for every state, but especially our state, to be a leader in that. Thank you guys for your time.

Thank you, Mr. Hart. And I think we did not receive your testimony, so just make sure to email it to us so we can make sure to file it. Thank you so much. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on these measures? Okay, Members, any questions? Okay, Department, please. Aloha Superintendent.

So the Department has done some significant work with its task force. If you can just kind of share with the Members how you were able to collect some of the. Provide additional context on the work you've done on some of the recommendations that the task force has.

Sure.

In your testimony.

So last year, in early spring, winter, spring, We convened a task force on civic learning and engagement. And, and there are various stakeholders that were a part of this group. We met over three sessions and we also had presenters who provided input. Some of the presenters were from the University of Hawaii.

We also had presenters from the PACE Commission, that's the. The Commission to promote and advance civic education. And we also looked in terms of what were present opportunities within the Department and they did come out with a list of recommendations that included creating an inventory with partnerships. I'll just read some. I won't read all of it.

This is a publicly available document we presented to the Board of Education to integrate across content and levels vertically and horizontally to connect the K12 continuum. We also. The recommendation was to connect the work that we do more closely with civic learning and engagement, possibly with our General learner outcomes or the HA framework.

And our HA framework is really to create a sense of belonging, sense of responsibility, a sense of aloha, total well being and just a General sense of Hawaii. So the Aloha spirit, I think is really something that we continue to promote in our Department largely through our naohopenao efforts.

Thank you so much. Do you think we could get a copy of the report?

Sure.

Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. Any other questions?

Seeing none. Let's move on. HCR95, HR91 requesting the Department of Education to provide students with information pertaining to changes to gun safety and storage laws. First up, we have Department of Education offering comments. HCR95 gun safety. Don't worry. Sorry about that.

I was trying to recap in the thing. Okay. Good afternoon. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee.

Oh, I think we skipped. Sorry. Sorry. That was my fault. I confused you. We are actually on. Yes. Yeah, sorry. So we are on HCR 87 HR 81 urging the Department of Education to establish an annual Climate Week in all public schools across the state to spread climate awareness, education and participation in sustainability initiatives.

And we do have the Department of Education.

Aloha Again, Chair, Vice chairs and Members of the Committee, Terry Ushijima testifying on behalf of the Department. We stand on our written comments that we have submitted. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Okay, next up, we have Climate Change and Health Working Group in support.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Committee. My name is James McCallan and I'm speaking on behalf of the Climate Change and Health Working Group in strong support of HCR87 HR81.

As climate impacts intensify through rising sea levels, extreme weather and threats to our natural resources, our children face both physical health risks and increasing eco anxiety about the future. By establishing an annual Climate Week in public schools, we can provide a dedicated space to discuss these challenges, build resilience and empower students with tools for effective climate action.

This resolution ensures our youth are engaged not only academically, but also so civically, learning how to shape policy and participate in meaningful sustainability projects. When students learn about climate change, build school gardens and participate in community based initiatives, they develop critical leadership skills and deepen their connection to the land.

A dedicated Climate Week also strengthens the ties between the environment and our shared health, building greater awareness of issues like food security, heat related illness prevention and disaster preparedness. We believe this approach will inspire a new generation of environmental stewards and public health champions who can guide Hawaii towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you for being here. Next, we have one individual in support, Mia Nishiguchi via Zoom Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Education Committee.

I'm speaking on behalf of Climate Features Future Forum. My name is Mia Nishiguchi, I'm a junior at Kalani High School and I strongly support this resolution. The State of Hawaii is highly vulnerable to climate educated disruptions which will only intensify in the coming decades.

Given this reality, climate change cannot be left as an option component that Some schools may choose to emphasize while others do not. A designated Climate Week ensures that all students engage in discussions and how to protect their communities and become proactive in sustainability sustainability efforts.

While the DOE does cite existing programs such as the Project Based Learning, CTE Pathways as well as Action Civic projects, these opportunities are not standardized across all schools and many students do not have access to robust climate education as implementation varies depending on school priorities, teacher expertise, as well as resource availability.

Establishing a Climate Week would create a unified, equitable approach to climate education education across all schools, ensuring that students, regardless of their school's existing initiatives, receives exposure to climate change and solutions.

Climate Week is not intended to replace ongoing sustainability efforts, but to strengthen them, providing a dedicated time for reflection, education as well as action on the most pressing global and local crisis of our time.

The DOE's position that climate Week is, quote, unquote, not needed at this time contradicts the urgency of climate science as well as Hawaii's existing sustainability commitments. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our futures and should not be cast aside.

If we are to prepare the next generation for the challenges ahead, we must institutionalize climate education in a way that is comprehensive, engaging, as well as accessible to all students.

Climate change is not just a recognition week, it is an investment in Hawaii's future, ensuring that generation is equipped with the knowledge, skills as well as motivation to protect their home. For these reasons, I strongly urge the adoption of HR81. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Thank you so much, Mia.

Next up, we have Debbie Milliken in support, Aloha Chair Woodson Vice Chair Lachica and other Members of the Committee. Debbie Milliken, on behalf of Climate Future Forum and other initiatives, I stand in strong support of this resolution. As you just heard from Mia, one of our youth, I think she said it much better than I could.

It's kind of hard to follow her, but I just wanted to add a couple things in addition that I personally commit to supporting the Department of Education, all schools, as needed through the initiatives that we run, Climate Future Forum, the We Grow event, and the Sustainability Fellowship. And mahalo for the opportunity to be here and testify.

Thank you so much, Debbie, for being here. Okay, then we also have Coalition Earth in support and six individuals in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on these measures, please, please come ahead. Come forward.

Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. My name is Kiko Kaho. I'm here today as the Hawaii Youth Food Council adviser. As you've heard from Mia, this is an important issue that they've been discussing the connection between food systems and climate issues are great. And having that be discussed in schools. So that they understand that these.

These climate issues will affect our food situation here in Hawaii in the long run is very important. Thank you for allowing us.

We can make sure we have your testimony. Please. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify? Okay. Seeing none. Members, questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to the next set of measures. HCR 95, HR 91, requesting the Department of Education to provide students with information pertaining to changes to gun safety and storage laws. First up, Department of Education.

Thank you. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Dean Uchida, Deputy Superintendent with Department of Education. We stand on a written testimony which provides comments on this measure.

One thing I'd like to point out is if this measure does proceed forward, to move forward, we ask for more clarification on what the intent of this resolution is supposed to achieve. Just providing education is it, you know, what is the outcome that we're trying to get?

If we could provide more clarity, maybe we can get more involved in that resolution. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Deputy. Then we also have one individual offering testimony in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on these measures? Seeing none. Members, questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to HCR104, HR100, urging the Department of Education to strengthen farm to school initiatives. First up, we have Department of Education offering comments.

Chair, Vice Chair Dinucida, Deputy Superintendent, DOE, Department stands in testimony offering comments on this measure.

I think a lot of the issues that are being brought up in the resolution we're already addressing right now trying to get the farm to school program up and running by coming up with a better menu, emphasizing local products, and then meeting with distributors so we can kind of tee everybody up for when we need the local products.

So I think a lot of the stuff we're working on right now. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy, Department of Agriculture in support. Not present. UH Dean GR. Yeah.

Mahalo for the opportunity. Chair, Vice Chair, Parwinder Grewal, Dean of College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. I want to emphasize the part resilience, because this bill, we support the intent of this bill, but we also offer our services from CTAHR. We offer food science expertise.

We also offer human nutrition and cooperative extension, providing technical assistance in this work, both to DOE and also to the producers. So that's what I just wanted to emphasize that this is a good approach to making sure that we move fast on this and it will build a sustainable, resilient, local food system.

Thank you so much Dean for offering your support. Next we have Climate Future Forum in support via Zoom. Erica Tien.

Good Afternoon Chair Woodson, Vice Chair La Chica and Members of the Committee. My name is Erica Tien and I am testifying as part of the Climate Future Forum's Regenerative Systems Working Group in support of HCR 104. We believe that investing in farm to school programs is an investment in Hawaii's future.

As part of my testimony, I'd like to share a personal experience. Growing up I had the privilege of accessing a variety of fresh lunches including local produce and snacks at school. However. However, before I came to Hawaii, I attended a public school in California where the food served was often highly processed and lacked fresh ingredients.

I remember the limited lunch options which often tasted artificial and stale. As I became more involved in food sustainability issues, I noticed similar disparities in schools across Hawaii as well. Schools must nourish their students no matter their family income or the school they attend.

Healthy food is a right for all and we must ensure that it's available if we want our youth thrive. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

Thank you so much. We also have Vivian Hill in support.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. My name is Vivian Hill. I'm a senior in high school and a member of the Hawaii Youth Food Council and I am in strong support of HCR104 and HR100. I just want to note that this resolution was written by the Hawaii Youth Food Council in collaboration with Representative Puruso's office.

So it's a true example of youth led policy at work. It reflects the voices, concerns of young people that share and care about food security, sustainability and access to local food in schools. It is really for students, by students, Farm to School Program support student health, local farmers and Hawaiis food sovereignty.

Hawaii has already committed to 30% local procurement in schools by 2030 and this would just help pave the way to making that a reality. And you know, it's just not happening right now. A recent Civil Beat article just said that DOE sourced just 5% local foods last year. So obviously something isn't working.

So I ask you to adopt HCR 104 and HR 100 to ensure that Hawaii's commitment to farm to school becomes a reality. And we follow through on the promise to our Keiki. Mahalo.

Thank you so much Vivian. And it is a very well written resolution so thank you. Okay, next up we have Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and Climate Protectors, Hawaii and Support. And we have five individuals. Five individuals also in support. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Please come up.

Hello Chair, Vice Chair, Members of Committee. Again, [unintelligible] Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network, as well. As the Hawaii Youth Food Council Advisor. This resolution was put together by the Hawaii Youth Food Council and is just trying to stand in support to show that Farm to School needs to change.

Here in Hawaii again, we have Act 175 trying to get 30% by 2030. Over the last couple of years, we've declined from 6.2 to a 5.4% of local food being used in our school cafeterias. We want that to change.

We want to start increasing the production amount and make sure that we're locally procuring our food so there's healthy, nutritious food for our youth to eat. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much. Anyone else wishing to testify? Okay. Seeing non Members. Questions? Yes, Representative Amato.

Thank you. Vice Chair, question for Deputy, please. Thank you so much for being here. Deputy Superintendent, question for you. So you mentioned trying to put together better menus. Isn't it wiser or more productive to find out what resources you have first and then put together the menus?

Well, what we're doing right now is we're looking at our existing menu and trying to maximize the use of local products in our existing menu for the next school year. We're working with KCC, HCC and Royal Maguchi's nonprofit to look at developing different menus that the students would like using local products.

So we want to phase that in over time. But the immediate need is to try and increase our purchase of local products. And by changing the menu and focusing on the existing menu, not getting real fancy and just trying to maximize the amount of local.

We hope to increase that number from 5% to something higher than that by next year.

So by manipulating the current menu and trying to find the local products that match it, how much do you think you can increase local food usage by the next school year?

I don't know. We're trying to meet with the distributors now because what we've done is by setting up the menu, we're trying to identify the quantities of the products we need and the timing of it, how many times a month we might need it.

And we're sitting down with the distributors to make sure that they can deliver this amount of product at this time and every month. Because, you know, basically the DOE is driving the market we're demanding. Right.

And it provides some certainty from the farming community that if they know that we're going to buy£100,000 of cabbage every month, they're going to plant for us to get it. Right. Until we drive the market with what we need, the farmers don't know what to do.

It's not like field of dreams, if you plant£100,000 of cabbage somewhere, gonna buy it. Right. So we want to provide some predictability to the market, and it's the first time we're trying it.

So we're meeting with the distributors, in fact, in the next week or so to try and iron things out, set everything up for next year.

Okay. And that said, if some farmers were to produce, say, 100,000 pounds of cabbage, could DOE make use of that?

That's what we're doing right now with our menu. You know, we're targeting the quantities during the whole month, so we're gonna have different, like tomatoes, lettuce, you know, potato. I mean, cabbage, and give the, give the farming community what our needs are when we need it.

And then hopefully, if they can respond, then we're kind of all in sync at that point.

And how much flexibility is there in your menu to be able to adapt based on what farmers suddenly produce and have, say, a bumper crop of tomatoes or something? Can your menu adapt to incorporate?

That depends on the product, but I think there is some flexibility. But, you know, we gotta provide meals for like 100,000 kids a day. Right. So if it's on one island, it's difficult because transportation costs can increase the cost.

So we're trying to break it up by islands, so we have distributors in each island, so we don't have to incur any major transportation costs. Right. But I think we were able to build a little bit of flexibility in depending on what island it's on.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Hi, deputy.

I knew you'd have a question.

No, it's not that difficult. Well, first for the cabbage next year, maybe St. Patrick's Day, just add some corned beef and potatoes, we can have some good meals. Just kidding. So the $1 billion that the federal. The feds are.

That they're going to be cutting for purchasing of local school food, do you know yet what the impact will be for the Department?

Well, that's the grant program. The one. Yeah, yeah, we have one now that we're finishing up. Then we're not going to have another grant program next year is what it looks like. There's not going to be any impact to anything happening now. But future programs, they're not going to be any funding.

So on the 300 million, was it 300 million that.

I don't know the exact amount but USDA put on a Zoom workshop and they mentioned closing out all the existing contracts with we have one and then not being able to count on it coming on for the next year.

So we currently. But we're still tracking any of the federal funds impact for we're being very.

Vigilant in watching what's happening in Washington right now. You know USDA controls all of our food site on the cafeteria side. So yeah, we've been watching that.

Thank you. Thank you Deputy.

Thank you.

Members, any other questions? Okay, seeing none. Let's move on to HCR 109, HR 105 supporting free and responsible scholastic journalism and actively supporting and honoring the First Amendment of the United States Constitution in student publications. First up, we have Department of Education offering comments.

Aloha again Chairs, Vice Chairs and Members of the Committee. Terry Ushijima from the Department of Education testifying by providing comments on this measure. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you so much. Next up we have Hawaii Chapter Society of Professional Journalists, in support. We have Student Press Law center in support, Media Council Hawaii in support. We have Sean Taketa Mclaughlin in support via Zoom. Not present. We also have Cindy Reeves in support via Zoom.

Good afternoon. I'm here to support HR105 and HCR109. Thank you representative Amato for introducing these resolutions and Representatives Woodson and La Chica for putting them on the agenda for a public on the record discussion. My name is Cindy Reeves. I advise Mckinley High School student newspaper the Pinyon.

As my written testimony shows, the student publication release form is a stone around the neck of student journalists and their advisors. There is no legal basis to require parental consent for a minor to speak to or be photographed by a student journalist. Minors can give and deny such consent.

Mckinley student journalists begin every interaction by explaining the goal of the interaction and that the student's name and or photo might be published in the pinion. An ethical value for journalists is minimizing harm.

There have been times when Mckinley journalists, in order to minimize harm for a source, have decided they want the parents to be aware of the article before publication. Making these decisions is part of learning to be a journalist. Passing these resolutions will remove the unnecessary question of do we have parental consent?

And allow student journalists and their advisors to focus on the real tasks of seeking truth, acting independently and transparently and minimizing harm. I'm available for any questions. Thank you.

Thank you. So much, Ms. Reeves. We also have Members 4, 5 individuals offering testimony in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on these measures? Seeing none. Members, questions. Just for the Department. If you can just respond to Ms. Reeves testimony on the parental consent and anything else.

We have been working with Ms. Reeves in our office, and we are aware of the concerns that she has raised. I think we've made. We are in the process of reviewing the documents and we basically agree. And we've had a lot of quality training from the student press center.

So, you know, we've been learning a lot about this, this new board policy. So I think that would be my response.

Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, thank you. Let's move on to HCR110, HR106, requesting the Auditor to conduct an audit of the Department of Education's capital improvement project finances. First up, we have Department of Where am I? Education offering comments.

Good afternoon. Chair, Vice Chair, Dino Uchida, Deputy Superintendent with Department of Education. The Department stands on its written testimony providing comments on this measure. Thanks.

Thank you so much. We also have in four individuals providing testimony in support. Is there anyone wishing to testify on this measure in person or on Zoom? Okay. Seeing none. Members, questions? Seeing none. Let's move on.

HCR111, HR107, urging the Department of Education to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the true cost of producing school meals to ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary price increases. First up, we have Department of Education offering comments.

Chair, Vice Chair. Dino Chida, Superintendent with Department of Education. The Department stands on written testimony offering comments on his mission. Thanks.

Thank you so much, Deputy. We also have Hawaii Children's Action Network speaks in support. Hawaii Public Health Institute in support.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Nate Hicks, Hawaii Public Health Institute. As you've heard me talk about many. Times before, our goal is to make. Sure we have free school meals for everybody. At the very least, we want to. Make sure the costs that our students.

Are incurring, our working families are incurring, are as low as possible. And if we have clarity around what the cost that the DOE are occurring, we can make sure that the costs are as low as possible to make sure we can end hunger as soon as possible. Mahalo.

Thank you so much. We have Hawaii Hunger Action Network in support, in person.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. As nature said. Oh, sorry, Genevieve. Hunger Action Network. As nature said, we just try to get everything so that we can have transparency for our working families. Families.

Earlier this year, as you know, the DOE proposed nearly doubling the price of school meals because of the high cost production and for these reasons it would be important to have a detailed report which can provide that clarity on expenditures and help us to understand the current State of school meal costs before increases happen.

Mahalo for the opportunity.

Thank you so much. We also have Hawaii Apple Seed in support and six individuals offering testimony and support. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on these measures? Okay, Seeing none. Members Questions? Okay, Seeing none. Let's move on.

HCR 145 HR139 urging the Department of Education, Department of Health and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate and develop a strategic plan to prepare for Hawaii's pursuit of funding for and participation in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Surveillance for estimating autism prevalence. First up, we have Department of Education in support.

Aloha Chair Woodson, Vice Chair La Chica, Members of the Committee. Kina O'Gardner, Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Student Support Services representing the Department of Education and we stand on our written testimony in support. Mahalo.

Thank you so much. We also have Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities in support.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Members. My name is Chase Silvert with the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities here on behalf of Danger Bar told us we will stand our written testimony in support.

We just wanted to highlight that prevalence rates, especially with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are historically ever changing and we typically always fare on the side of undervaluing or under diminishing the prevalence rates.

For example, with intellectual and developmental disabilities we typically still use a 1.58% and autism in it of itself has typically a much higher prevalence rate and we don't have a lot of data in Hawaii. So we support this. Thank you.

Thank you so much. We also have testimony and support from Bayada Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council in support, Hawaii Early Childhood Action Strategy in support, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis in support and testimony in support from three individuals. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? We have one individual. I would love to testify.

Hello everybody. I'm a mother of three children on the autism spectrum and have been heavily involved in providing solutions for families in our community through our 501C3 nonprofit, the Ava Sophia foundation, better known as Autism Moms of Kona.

We currently support 150 Keiki and their families in Kona and have recently expanded to support 45 Keiki in their Ohana in East Hawaii Island. The current prevalence rate is 1 in 36 children. This is pre Covid numbers.

1 in 36 children has an autism diagnosis and this has a trend of steady increase since the beginning of the CDC surveillance through the ADDM in 2000 and at that time 1 in 144 children were diagnosed with autism.

This current prevalence data is from a surveillance study published in 2020 and it's important to note that most recent research shows that autism may be most prevalent and profound in the demographic groups that are most populous in Hawaii, namely in children who are Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander.

These populations are above others, including but not limited to Hispanic, African American, Native American and Caucasian and this data is from surveillance sites across the mainland, but there is no monitoring site here in the State of Hawaii.

So we strongly share a call to action to come together so we can better get a better representation of the ethnicities that are most populous here in Hawaii to thereby find data trends that present opportunities for more resources and services to adequately serve the Keiki in our beloved home. Mahalo.

so much and oh okay, we have you on, we have your testimony. Thank you so much. Anyone else wishing to testify on these measures? Okay, Seeing none. Members questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to the final set of resolutions.

HCR186HR179 requesting the Department of Education in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School School Commission to conduct a study on the practices of managing heat exposure in Department and charter schools to protect students health during outdoor activities. First up we have Department of Education in support.

Aloha again Chair and Vice Chair Members of the Committee. Again Department of Education and we stand on our written testimony and support. Mahalo.

Thank you so much. We have Department of Health in support. In support. Thank you Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission.

Aloha Chair and Vice Chair Members of the Committee. [Unintelligible] on behalf of Dr. No at the Exec State Public Charter School Commission. We stand on our submitted testimony and support. Looking forward to working with Department of Health and Department of Education in this matter.

Thank you so much.

We also have the Climate Change and Health Working Group Aloha Chair, Vice Chair Members of the Committee James McCallan on behalf of the Climate Change and Health Working Group in strong support of this measure. We appreciate the Committee's previous support for the bill version of this measure which unfortunately was never heard in finance.

Thank you for hearing this resolution which continues to protect our children from heat related illness. Rising temperatures put children at greater risk for heat related illness, especially during sports, recess and band practice when they have limited control of scheduling and hydration.

The resolution calls for a study on heat management practices and the use of wet bulb globe temperature standards which would provide clear, data driven guidelines to protect students from dangerous he heat stress.

Examining the cost and feasibility, we can, by doing this, we can proactively prevent harm and ensure schools have the tools they need to safeguard children's health. Mahala, for your time.

Thanks so much for being here. And Members, that's all I have for my testimony. Is there anyone else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, Questions? Okay. Thank you. Recess.

Aloha. Welcome back to your joint committees on Education and Higher Education. We are going to decision making on HCR 75 HR 67 together for this one we are going to pass as is. Numbers, comments, questions, concerns, seeing none. Chair for the vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The recommendation is to pass these resolutions HCR 75 and HR 67 as is Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Amato.

Aye.

Representative Evslin. Aye. Representative Garrett. Aye. Representative Kapela. Excuse. Representative Kila. Aye. Representative Olds. Representative Sayama. Representative Muraoka. Excuse. Representative Souza. Aye. Recommendation adopted.

Okay. Members for the Higher Education Committee, same recommendation is to pass as is. Members, any comments, questions or concerns? Chair.

Thank you. Vice Chair Higher Ed voting on HCR 75 and HR 67 in tandem. Recommendation is to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Evslin.

Aye.

Representatives. Representative Kapela. Excused. Representative Kila.

Aye.

Representative La Chica.

Aye.

Representative Olds. Representative Sayama. Representative Woodson. Aye. Representative Muraoka. Excused. Representative Souza.

Aye.

Thank you. Recommendation adopted.

This joint agenda is adjourned. Okay. Reconvening the Committee on Education. For the remainder of the agenda, we are going to decision making for HCR 46, HR 39. For this one, we be. We are go. I will agree to defer this resolution for now based on the Attorney General's testimony.

However, I do want to emphasize that, you know, the intent of this measure is really on, you know, joint use agreements and recreational facilities for many of you know, individuals who do not have access to free play, community use, active living and so other states have successfully implemented share you shared use agreements with clear liability safeguards.

And I believe Hawaii should follow suit at some point, especially for underserved areas where it's needed the most. So with that we will move on to the next set of resolutions. HCR 86, HR 80 on the aloha Civics Working Group. I did talk to the introducer of this measure.

We are going to pass this with an HD 1.

So based on DOE's testimony, we will remove the section establishing the Aloha Civics Working Group and we will modify the resolution to request a report from the Department on how they are implementing the Civic Learning and Engagement Task Force recommendations and integrating the Aloha spirit into the Civic into Civics Education before the regular session of 2026.

We will also be updating the distribution list to remove the Director of the University of Hawaii's Matsunaga Institute for Peace and the Coordinator of the Legislative Reference Bureau, Public Access Room. We will update the resolution title to reflect the changes and I believe that's it. Members comments, questions and concerns Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you Madam Chair. Members voting on HCR 86 and HR 80, the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Evslin. Aye. Representative Kapela. Excuse. Representative Kila. Aye. Representative Olds. Representative Sayama. Excuse. Representatives Muraoka. Excuse. Representative Souza. Aye. Okay. Recommendation adopted.

Thank you, Chair. Next. Oh, Representative Amato.

They miss one. My apologies, Representative Amato.

Oh, that's okay. Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Adopted.

Thank you. Next up we have HCR 87, HR 81 on an annual climate week in all public schools. We are going to pass this one as is Members comments, questions, concerns seeing none chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR 87 HR 81. The recommendation is to pass with amendments none of the excused absences of Representatives Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and Soyama. Are there any reservations or mos? Recommendation adopted.

Thank you, Chair. Next up we have HCR 95, HR 91 requesting the DOE to provide information on changes to gun safety and storage laws. I did speak with the introducer as well for this one and we are passing this with an HD 1.

And the intent of the resolution is on providing information on resources on gun safety and storage law. So we will change the requirement.

So instead of having schools distribute the information directly to students, we will instead have the information be available on the Department of Education's website similar to what other states are doing to provide broader public access and ensure that students, parents and educators have up to date information and resources on our state's gun safety and storage laws.

And we will also update the resolution title to reflect the change. Members comments, questions and concerns seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR 95 HR 91. The recommendation is to pass this with amendments noting the excused absences of Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and what does this say? Sayama. Are there any reservations or nos? Recommendation adopted.

Thank you, Chair. Next we have HCR 104,HR 100 on our urging the DOE to strengthen farm to school initiatives. We are going to pass this as is Members comments, questions, concerns seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you Madam Chair. Voting on HCR 104, HR 100. The recommendation is to pass this as is noting the excused absences of Reps. Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and Sayama. Are there any reservations? Recommendations adopted.

Thank you. Next up we have HCR 109,HR 105 on supporting free and responsible scholastic journalism. We are going to pass this out with an HD 1. Simply inserting a deadline in the first clause. So for the Department to do this no later than December 31, 2025 and adopting tech amendments for clarity, consistency and style.

Members, any comments, questions, concerns, seeing none Chair for the vote.

Members voting on HCR 109, HR 105 the recommendation is to pass with amendments noting the excused absences of Representatives Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and Sayama. Are there any reservations or nos?Adopted.

Thank you for next up HCR 110, HR106 requesting an audit of the Department's capital improvement project finances. We're going to pass this as is. Comments, questions concerns? Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Members voting on HCR 110, HR 106, the recommendation is to pass as is noting the excuse absences of Kapela, Kapelas, Muraoka, Garrett and Sayama. Are there any reservations or nos? Recommendation adopted.

Thank you.

Next we have HCR 111, HR 107 urging the Department to provide a report to the ledge on the cost of producing school meals. We are also going to pass this as is. Members comments questions concerns? Okay, seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members voting on HCR 111, HR 107 the recommendation is to pass with amendments. No. As is. Noting the excuse absences of Rep. Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and Sayama. Are there any reservations or nos? Adopted. Quick recess recession.

Okay. Gonna continue on the remainder of the agenda. We are on HCR 145, HR 139, urging the Department to work with relevant stakeholders on strategic plan for the funding and participation in the CDC's public health surveillance for estimating autism prevalence. Members are going to pass this as is. Members comments, questions, concerns?

Okay, seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you Madam Chair. Members voting on HCR 145, HR139 the recommendation is to pass unamended noting the excused absences of Representatives Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and Sayama. Are there any reservations or nos? Adopted.

Thank you Chair. Then final set of measures on the agenda. HCR 186, HR 179 requesting the DOE to work with the Department of Health and the State Public Charter School Commission on a study managing heat exposure. We are going to also pass this as is. Members comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR 186, HR 179. The recommendation is to pass as is noting the excuse absences of Representatives Kapela, Muraoka, Garrett and Sayama. Are there any reservations or nos? Reservation or. Adopted.

Thank you Chair. Members we are adjourned.

Sa.