Bill Text: HI HR194 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: DOE; Bullying

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-19 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 40 [HR194 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HR194-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	194
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the superintendent of education to convene a task force to address the issue of school bullying.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, all students have the right to participate fully in the education process, free from bullying; and

 

     WHEREAS, a safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and to meet high academic standards; and

 

     WHEREAS, bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, disrupts a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment; and

 

     WHEREAS, the administrative rules of the Department of Education require any teacher, official, or other employee of the department who is a witness to school bullying, or who has reasonable cause to believe that school bullying has been committed or will be committed, against a student, teacher, official, or other employee of the department, or involving school property, must promptly report the incident to the principal or the principal's designee; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011, requires the Board of Education to oversee the Department of Education's compliance with administrative rules and statutes regarding bullying, including required reporting procedures; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite the efforts of the Department of Education, studies indicate that bullying continues to be a problem in Hawaii public schools and that children with disabilities are two to three times more likely to be victims of bullying than their nondisabled peers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the bullying of disabled students raises the specter of renewed federal court intervention in the administration of Hawaii's public schools, similar to what took place in the 1990's; and

 

     WHEREAS, because students learn by example, school administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers should be expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treat others with civility and respect, and refuse to tolerate bullying; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Superintendent of Education is requested to convene a task force to address the issue of school bullying; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Superintendent of Education is requested to serve as the chairperson of the task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Superintendent of Education is requested to invite the following persons to serve as members on the task force:

 

(1)  The Attorney General, or designee;

 

(2)  A member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

(3)  A member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

 

(4)  A licensed attorney to be appointed by the President of the Hawaii State Bar Association;

 

(5)  Two public school teachers, to be appointed by the President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association;

 

(6)  Two parents of public school children, to be appointed by the Superintendent of Education; and

 

(7)  Other interested persons, to be appointed by the Superintendent of Education; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to assist the task force in finalizing its report and any proposed legislation to implement the task force's recommendations; provided that the task force is requested to submit a draft of its report and any proposed legislation to the Bureau no later than November 1, 2013; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General, the President of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

DOE; Bullying