STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1253

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1295

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1295, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to conduct asbestos tests prior to renovations or painting of school facilities at all public schools and directs the department to maintain a record of all students at King intermediate school who may have been exposed to asbestos.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that asbestos can be found in many school buildings in Hawaii. Most recently, King intermediate school experienced a health scare in December 2004 when asbestos was detected during an exterior renovation project. It is a high priority to ensure that the department provides a healthy and safe environment for educating students. This measure will provide the additional funding to test all school facilities.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to clarify that the testing is to be done only to surfaces that have not previously been inspected.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1295, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1295, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Military Affairs,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair