STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1933

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   S.B. No. 603

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 603, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve public education as delivered through the charter school system by clarifying the functions, duties, and roles of the Board of Education (BOE) and Charter School Review Panel (Panel) in the administration and operations of Hawaii's charter schools.

 

     The Charter School Administrative Office (CSAO), University of Hawaii, Hawaii Charter Schools Network, Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, Connections Public Charter School, Voyager Public Charter School, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Kamehameha Schools and Hookakoo Corporation supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported this bill in part.  BOE, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and Waialae Elementary Public Charter School offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the provision that authorizes local school boards to enter into long-term lease agreements;

 

     (2)  Removing the requirement that CSAO include in its annual budget request:

 

          (A)  Costs associated with administrative and staff support for the Panel; and

 

          (B)  A per-pupil amount to start-up charter schools for facilities-related costs;

 

     (3)  Removing the requirement that the Department of Budget and Finance distribute reimbursements for fringe benefit costs to charter schools on a quarterly basis;

 

     (4)  Deleting the appropriation of funds to CSAO for its annual budget requests;

 

     (5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 603, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 603, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair