HB946 SD2 SSCR1376

STAND. COM. REP. NO.1376

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 946

S.D. 2

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 946, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to streamline the application process for charter schools.

Among other things, this bill:

(1) Establishes a charter school review panel and submittal process time line;

(2) Provides for provisional approval of charters;

(3) Establishes the Board of Education as the final appeals and approval authority;

(4) Provides that the per pupil allocation to any charter school shall not exceed the Department of Education's average per pupil expenditure based on a school of 320 students or less; and

(5) Establishes a preference in review for existing publicly funded schools or programs.

Your Committee finds that it is time to reform some of the provisions dealing with charter schools, which have been authorized by law since 1999. This measure seeks to speed up the establishment of charter schools and still keep the Board of Education involved in assuring quality education and dedication to the mission of educating all students with a wide range of abilities. Students deserve to have free education with dedicated local community support. This measure is designed to help meet that goal.

Your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive amendments to this bill in keeping with proper drafting style.

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 H.B. No. 946, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 946, S.D. 2.

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

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair