STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1040-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3238

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve student academic performance in Hawaii's public schools by:

(1) Implementing education reform and decentralization measures; and

(2) Appropriating funds for various education programs.

The Board of Education (BOE), Department of Education(DOE), the Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Education, and an individual supported this bill. The Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this bill. The Office of the Governor, Department of Budget and Finance, and two individuals opposed this bill. The Department of Health, Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Accounting and General Services, and Hawaii Teacher Standards Board submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Clarifying that BOE shall adopt, and DOE shall implement, the weighted student formula (WSF);

(2) Deleting changes to the budgeting process for charter schools;

(3) Clarifying the responsibilities of complex area superintendents with regard to each principal and school community council within their respective complexes;

(4) Excluding appropriations to DOE for adult education and the After-School Plus (A+) Program from moneys to be allocated under the WSF; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

		____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair