Bill > SB527

This bill establishes five full-time equivalent (FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Hawaii Department of Education to improve compliance with state and federal civil rights laws. Specifically, the bill creates one 1.0 FTE Title IX specialist focused on gender equity in athletics, who will review athletic programs, develop policies to ensure non-discrimination, provide guidance to schools and stakeholders, and investigate potential civil rights violations related to gender equity. The bill also creates four 1.0 FTE equity specialists who will serve statewide, acting as Title IX coordinators for complex areas, investigating potential civil rights violations across multiple federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act), ensuring language access, coordinating reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, and providing technical support to school administrators. The bill appropriates funding from state general revenues to establish these positions and provide necessary equipment and supplies, with the positions set to be implemented on July 1, 2050. The legislation was prompted in part by a 2018 federal lawsuit and aims to strengthen the Department of Education's ability to uphold civil rights protections across its educational programs and activities.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=527&year=2025