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HB763
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
763
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to civic education
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that civic education
prepares students to participate in the public and political lives of their
communities.
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Teaching students about the
importance of civic engagement through civic education helps develop critical
thinking skills that are vital to the functioning of a democratic nation,
including how to recognize social problems, evaluate possible solutions to
problems, separate evidence-based claims from opinions, and act upon what is
learned.
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The legislature further finds that
in the 2020 general election, forty states had a higher voter turnout than did
Hawaii, which placed Hawaii among the ten states with the lowest voter turnout
in the nation.
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The legislature also
finds that cultivating social and political engagement among students through
civic education is an important strategy available to increase voter turnout
and citizen engagement over the long term.
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The legislature additionally finds
that in 2018, the board of education adopted the Hawaii core standards in
social studies.
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These core standards
outline the content, concepts, and inquiry skills students need to reason,
wonder, and think about the vastness and richness of the human condition.
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The Hawaii core standards in social studies
also integrate and encompass the democratic values, civility, and global
perspective needed to support the development of critical thinking and habits
of mind that are the hallmark of a mature, community-minded citizen.
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The standards are also premised upon a
rigorous and relevant K-12 social studies experience.
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The legislature finds that engaging
students in the pursuit of active and informed citizenship will connect
students to the world through informed instructional experiences that are led
by teachers who are committed to active civic participation.
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In this way, students will not simply acquire
and produce knowledge but will have the knowledge and skills to engage in the
workings of a democracy and practice democratic citizenship.
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However, the legislature finds that the
department of education has not engaged in systematic teacher training on the
new standards nor has addressed the paucity of culturally appropriate materials
for historical and civic education.
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The purpose of this Act is to
increase access to civic education in Hawaii's public school system by:
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(1)
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Establishing a
Hawaii civic education trust fund for the educational benefit of students in
the Hawaii public school system; and
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(2)
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Appropriating
funds for the expansion of civic education in public schools.
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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:
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�302A-
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Hawaii civic education trust fund;
established.
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(a)
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There is established the Hawaii civic
education trust fund as a separate fund of the department.
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Moneys received from the State or county,
private contributions of cash and other property, and the income and capital
gains earned by the trust fund shall constitute the trust fund assets.
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The department shall be responsible for
determining the moneys that would be deposited into the trust fund.
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(b)
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The department shall have the sole
responsibility for the administration and expenditure of moneys from the trust
fund for the purposes of this section.
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(c)
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The purpose of the trust fund is to serve as
a repository for moneys intended for improving, and supporting the programs
benefiting, the civic education of the students of the Hawaii public school
system.
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(d)
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The aggregate principal sum deposited in the
trust fund, and any income and capital gains earned by the trust fund but not
expended for grantmaking or administration, shall be invested by the
superintendent in the State's investment pool to maximize the rate of return on
investment of the trust fund consistent with the objective of preserving the
trust fund's principal.
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The department shall
be allowed to hire investment managers either within or outside of the
department.
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(e)
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In the event of the termination of the trust
fund, the unspent appropriations made by the State, if any, shall be
distributed to EDN100 (department of education, school-based budgeting).
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(f)
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The trust fund may receive contributions,
grants, or gifts from corporations or other businesses, foundations,
government, individuals, and other interested parties.
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(g)
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The trust fund may receive contributions,
grants, or gifts in cash or otherwise from all sources.
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The public and private sectors shall work
together as partners in securing contributions for the trust fund.
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The State may allocate moneys to the trust
fund by legislative appropriation.
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(h)
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There may be an endowment component of the
trust fund, as deemed necessary by the superintendent.
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(i)
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The superintendent shall oversee the
administration and expenditure of funds for the following activities:
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(1)
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Grantmaking to
raise awareness of the trust fund;
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(2)
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Allocation of
funds for the operations of the department;
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(3)
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Allocation of
funds for the civic education of the public
school
students of this State;
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(4)
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Allocation of
funds for programs that support the civic education of the public school
students of this State;
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(5)
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Allocation of
funds for public school facilities and classroom resources relating to civic
education;
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(6)
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Allocation
of funds for professional development programs relating to civic education; and
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(7)
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Administration of
the trust fund.
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The department may
choose to hire outside of the department to administer the trust fund.
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(j)
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The superintendent shall develop policies,
plans, and strategies for the trust fund; publicize the trust fund; and solicit
public and private moneys for the trust fund.
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(k)
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For the purposes of this section, "trust
fund" or "fund" means the Hawaii civic education trust fund.
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SECTION 3.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $84,000 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 expansion of civic education in
public schools, including professional development and classroom resources
related to the Hawaii core standards in social studies.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for
the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 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 two full-time equivalent (2.0
FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher positions.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for
the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
5.
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New statutory material is
underscored.
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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Civic
Education; Civic Education Trust Fund; Department of Education; Resource
Teacher; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
the civic education trust fund to support programs benefiting civic education
of public school students.
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Appropriates
funds for the expansion of civic education in the public schools and for two
full-time equivalent permanent civic education resource teacher positions.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.