Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2224 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the dedicated funding amount made annually to the state educational facilities improvement special fund.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education's plan for capital improvement projects, which is financed through the state educational facilities improvement special fund, shows a need of $1,200,000,000 over the next ten years, or approximately $120,000,000 per year.

This bill raises the amount of the annual dedicated funding to the special fund from $45,000,000 to $90,000,000. The one hundred per cent increase will go a long way to not only meet backlog and current needs, but will also address lump sum items to comply with various federal, state, and municipal laws regarding cesspool removal, playground accessibility, safety, and other issues.

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 S.B. No. 2224 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.