STAND. COM. REP. NO.  68

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 986

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 986 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve public school facilities and reduce energy demands by requiring:

 

     (1)  Construction and renovation of public school facilities to meet the standards of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools;

 

     (2)  Replacement of old portable buildings with high performance classrooms; and

 

     (3)  Prioritization of public school facilities projects in accordance with certain criteria.

 

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Laborers' International Union of North America Local 368 supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Education did not support this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that this bill presents many favorable implications for Hawaii.  It will decrease current and future energy demands on Hawaii's public school system and, at the same time, provide buildings that are critical to the health and educational well-being of Hawaii's students.  This measure will also position Hawaii to use any forthcoming federal funds for public school construction, and thereby also serve as an economic stimulus for the State's slumping economy.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by clarifying the matters of consideration in prioritizing public school facilities projects by replacing:

 

     (1)  "Reduce energy use" with "Promote energy efficiency by requiring forty per cent less energy demand as compared to the International Energy Conservation Code";

 

     (2)  "Promote the use of renewable energy" with "Incorporate renewable energy resources";

 

     (3)  "Support local jobs" with "Prioritize local and regional jobs";

 

     (4)  "Are quick to deploy" with "Are deployable within twelve months of funding"; and

 

     (5)  "Have forty per cent lower life-cycle costs than traditional buildings." with "Anticipate twenty-five per cent lower life-cycle costs than traditional buildings."

 

     Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 986, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 986, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Education.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair