Bill Text: HI HB2078 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-24 - Referred to EDN, JHA, referral sheet 2 [HB2078 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2078-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2078 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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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 the right to education is fundamental to the success of Hawaii's children and youth. On March 7, 1974, the board of education adopted the student bill of rights and responsibilities, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of students as analogous to those of an adult citizen. A copy of this document is distributed annually to staff and kept in every school office.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii is a place of diverse cultures, practices, races, and ethnicities. It is vital for student success in Hawaii's public schools that historically and culturally accurate educational materials are available and that individuals of diverse backgrounds and characteristics are recognized and welcomed.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Require the department of education to ensure that accurate and inclusive curricula is available to all students; and
(2) Make it a discriminatory practice to prohibit, restrict access to, remove, or exclude from curricula various inclusive materials and topics.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Inclusive
curricula; availability; discriminatory practice; complaints. (a) Beginning with the 2025-2026
school year, the department shall ensure that accurate and inclusive curricula
are available to all students at public schools in accordance with age
guidelines.
(b) It
shall be a discriminatory practice to refuse to approve, remove, or
prohibit the use or access of any curricular materials from a school or public
library on the basis that the materials:
(1) Address topics
related to race; color; ancestry; sex, including gender identity, gender expression,
or sexual orientation; religion; or disability; or
(2) Are written by
individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or are questioning
their sexuality, or involve issues concerning these individuals.
(c) The department shall create a process to
receive complaints regarding a school or school complex that is not in
compliance with subsection (a).
(d) Any
individual claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged unlawful discriminatory
practice under subsection (b) may file a complaint with the civil rights
commission in accordance with the procedure established under chapter 368.
(e)
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prevent the department
from implementing or using existing age-appropriate guidelines in effectuating
this section.
(f)
For the purposes of this section, "inclusive curricula" means curricular
materials that accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of society. "Inclusive curricula" includes books
and educational materials that:
(1) Recognize the contributions
of people of all genders in all types of roles, including professional,
vocational, and executive roles;
(2) Collectively
address a diversity of cultures, races, and nationalities; and
(3) Reflect the role and contributions of Native Hawaiians; Native Americans; African Americans; Latino Americans; Asian Americans; Pacific Islanders; European American; and other diverse groups."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Education; Inclusive Curricular Materials; Public Schools; Discriminatory Practices; Complaint
Description:
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
