Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 666, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to provide each public school principal with a prorated allocation of funds for the purpose of reimbursing teachers' out-of-pocket expenses for supplies necessary for their students to perform the required school work and master the curriculum.

In addition, this measure requires the Department of Education to provide students with textbooks, workbooks, equipment, apparatus, and other supplies in sufficient number and of appropriate quality necessary for each student to perform the required school work and master the curriculum.

Your Committee on Education previously received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association. The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that teachers spend on average $1,000 of their own money every school year to buy supplies, materials, equipment, and furniture for their classrooms. Furthermore, your Committee finds that these are items that teachers should already have, but they are not being provided by the Department of Education for one reason or another.

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. 666, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.