STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2583

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2218
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2218, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NEW CENTURY CHARTER SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to further refine the laws
relating to new century charter schools.

     Specifically, this bill:

     (1)  Gives a member of a new century charter school board
          the same immunity from and indemnification for civil
          liability as a person who is appointed to serve on a
          temporary or permanent state board, council, authority,
          committee, or commission established by law;

     (2)  Allows a group of teachers within an existing school to
          establish a new century charter school;

     (3)  Requires the Auditor to explicitly consider the advice
          of representatives of local school boards, in addition
          to the Superintendent, when the Auditor determines the
          allocation of state general funds to new century
          charter schools;

     (4)  Requires the Auditor to consider any changes to the
          Department of Education's budget made by the Governor,

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2583
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          in addition to the Legislature, when the Auditor
          determines the allocation of state general funds to new
          century charter schools;

     (5)  Requires the Auditor to develop a methodology for
          allocating funds that can be applied to various forms
          of alternatives to public schools, including new
          century charter schools; and

     (6)  Appropriates an unspecified sum to the Department of
          Education to establish additional new century charter
          schools; and allows this sum to be expended for start
          up costs:

          (A)  Including the hiring of additional school
               personnel; but

          (B)  Excluding the hiring of personnel who transfer to
               a new century charter school from another school
               or from the Department of Education.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2218, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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