STAND. COM. REP. NO.1062
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 1361
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1361 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE VOLUNTEER INCENTIVE PROGRAM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to create a volunteer incentive program (program) within the Department of Education (DOE). More specifically, this bill:
(1) Allows volunteers who provide uncompensated services that benefit public schools to deduct from their gross income $1 for every hour volunteered up to $400 per taxable year;
(2) Requires DOE to make quarterly payments to each school that participates in the program in an amount equal to $1 for every hour of uncompensated volunteer service contributed to the school, up to $4,800 per fiscal year; and
(3) Appropriates funds to DOE for the creation and development of the program.
The Department of Accounting and General Services and DOE submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill. The Department of Taxation submitted testimony in opposition to this bill. Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments on this bill.
Your Committee finds that this bill will promote volunteerism and community involvement in schools. The incentives offered in the bill will encourage individuals to donate their time, and schools to seek out volunteers. Schools need as much help as they can get, and this program will provide low-cost assistance to schools in areas such as repair and maintenance, campus beautification, administrative assistance, and teacher and classroom aid.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Requiring DOE to adopt rules for the program to maintain the safety and security integrity of the schools; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1361, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1361, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair |
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