Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1295, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to conduct asbestos testing prior to renovating or painting the exteriors or interiors of school facilities.

The bill exempts charter schools and surfaces that have been previously tested from the testing requirements.

This measure also requires the Department of Education to maintain records of all students who may have been exposed to asbestos during an exterior renovation project conducted at Governor Samuel Wilder King intermediate school in December 2004.

Your Committee finds that exposure to asbestos can present a health and safety issue for students, teachers, and visitors when the asbestos is disturbed during the renovation or painting of school facilities. Reasonable precautions need to be taken to prevent such exposure.

Your Committee has amended this bill by inserting an appropriation of $1 to facilitate further discussion and making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

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 H.B. No. 1295, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1295, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.