Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2848 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to propose constitutional amendments authorizing the State to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds to assist not-for-profit private elementary schools, secondary schools, universities, and colleges.

The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Catholic Conference submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted testimony in opposition to this bill. The Department of Education submitted comments on this bill.

Your Committees find that all schools, public and private, should be supported in their efforts to provide the best education possible to students in the State. Many private schools in the State are small and have difficulty financing needed repair and construction work on their campuses. Allowing these schools to utilize special purpose revenue bonds would significantly increase their ability to improve their facilities and quality of education, at no cost to the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2848 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.