CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 68-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: S.B. No. 2425
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
C.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2425, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"
having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.
The purpose of this measure is to expedite funding for new century charter schools by requiring that:
(1) Fifty percent of per pupil allocations be provided by July 15 of each year, based upon projected enrollment;
(2) Forty percent of per pupil allocations be provided by October 15 of each year, based upon an actual student count made by September 15 of each year; and
(3) Ten percent of per pupil allocations be provided by January 1 of each year, based upon an actual student count made by October 15 of each year.
Your Committee finds that this measure will enhance the timeliness of the funding stream available to new century charter schools, thus enhancing their ability to serve as an effective alternative to other public schools.
Your Committee further finds that the Governor's budget request, as expressed in House Bill No. 1800, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1, contained a student count (4,834) and per pupil allocation figure ($5,355) that were somewhat lower than an updated student count verified by the Charter School Administrative Office (4,944) and an updated per pupil allocation ($5,736) approved by the Board of Education based upon figures calculated by the Charter School Administrative Office, Department of Education Budget Office, and charter school financial officers. These updated figures were reflected in the most recent consolidated annual financial report of the Department of Education. As a result, a supplemental appropriation of $2,472,714 is necessary to cover the difference.
Your Committee has amended the measure by:
(1) Allowing the Legislature to adjust the per pupil allocation;
(2) Allowing the Legislature to make additional appropriations for fringe or other employee benefits, and facility costs;
(3) Requiring the Charter School Administrative Office to provide the initial fifty percent of a new century charter school's per pupil allocation no later than July 20 of each year, instead of July 15;
(4) Requiring the Charter School Administrative Office to provide forty percent of a new century charter school's per pupil allocation no later than November 15 of each year, based upon a student enrollment verified on October 15 of each year, provided that the student enrollment shall be verified on the first day of business immediately prior to October 15 should that date fall on a weekend;
(5) Requiring the Charter School Administrative Office to provide a new century charter school's remaining ten percent per pupil allocation no later than January 1 of each year and delinking it from a revised student enrollment;
(6) Requiring that, in conjunction with the verified student enrollment on or immediately prior to October 15, the charter school administrative office shall also collect from new century charter schools accountings of the percentage of students who transferred from public schools established and maintained by the department to new century charter schools;
(7) Requiring that these accountings also be submitted by the Charter School Administrative Office to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each Regular Session;
(8) Requiring the Department of Education to transfer from EDN 100 to EDN 600 additional per pupil allocations for new century charter schools whose verified student enrollment exceeds their projected student enrollment, in an amount to correspond with the additional students;
(9) Requiring the Charter School Administrative Office to transfer from EDN 600 to EDN 100 any excess per pupil allocations for new century charter schools whose verified student enrollment is lower than their projected student enrollment in an amount to correspond with the lower number of students;
(10) Adding an appropriation of $2,472,714 for new century charter schools; and
(11) Changing the effective date from July 1, 2010 to upon approval; provided that the appropriation section is to take effect on July 1, 2004.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2425, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2425, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:
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ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE |
ON THE PART OF THE SENATE |
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____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Co-Chair |
____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Co-Chair |
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair |
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