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. 1567, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Education (DOE) to provide free or subsidized bus fare to students that qualify for free or reduced school lunch and who have been forced to transfer schools due to redistricting.

The Senator from the 20^th District and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this bill with proposed amendments. DOE submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that some students in public schools have been required to transfer schools due to overcrowding at their school, and are now required to pay school bus fare. This situation is unfair for these students, many of whose families may not be able to afford bus fares.

Your Committee has also become aware of a situation in the Makakilo/Barbers Point area that requires attention. Some students residing in the current district served by Mauka Lani Elementary School will be transferred to Barbers Point Elementary School, which is four to five miles away. Furthermore, there are three schools that are closer to Mauka Lani Elementary School than Barbers Point Elementary School. The housing around Barbers Point Elementary School has also been largely demolished leaving the school isolated and vulnerable and with unsightly and dangerous surroundings.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 1567, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1567, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.