Appropriates $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the same sum for fiscal year 2002-2003, from the general fund to be expended by the department of education for public school repair and maintenance projects.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Hawaii's future lies in its ability to provide a quality educational system for its residents. Over the years, the State has demonstrated its commitment to this goal by establishing new policies and increasing funding to support the educational needs of Hawaii's people.

The legislature finds that the State has invested over $1,700,000,000 in the construction of school facilities for the department of education and the University of Hawaii. Through the department of accounting and general services, and the University of Hawaii, repair, maintenance, and improvement services are routinely performed to assure the health and safety of our students. Within the past six years, however, the severe downturn in the State's economy has made it difficult to fund repair, maintenance, and improvements at required levels.

The legislature finds that the quality of public education in the State is related to the condition of its public educational facilities. The physical facilities used by the department of education and the University of Hawaii provide the foundation for all educational activities in the State. Adequate financing of repairs, maintenance, and improvement projects is necessary to keep educational facilities functional, architecturally sound, aesthetically pleasing, and in compliance with building and safety codes. Operationally sound facilities promote better education by providing a proper environment in which to teach, learn, and conduct research.

Aside from adversely affecting our students, the deferral of repair, maintenance, and improvement projects is a short-sighted strategy, because any postponement of relatively inexpensive work actually costs the State untold millions of dollars in future obligations. To assure safe, structurally sound, and aesthetic educational facilities and to be fiscally responsible, the State needs to fund this repair, maintenance, and improvement backlog.

Last year, $30,000,000 was appropriated for the purpose of making needed repairs, maintenance, and improvements to our public school facilities. The legislature finds that additional funding is necessary to continue projects already begun, and to begin new projects.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate general funds for repair, maintenance, and improvement projects to improve school facilities.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for repair and maintenance projects for public schools.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.