Requires the Department of Education (DOE) to: (1) Plan and request appropriations for air conditioning in existing and new school facilities that DOE determines are in need of it; (2) Develop standards to justify why acoustic noise control or air conditioning is not needed; (3) Establish a priority list of public schools that are in greatest need of air conditioning; and (4) Install, based on the priority list, air conditioning in school facilities by certain time intervals. (HB903 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Recently, much attention has been given to enhancing Hawaii's public education system to ensure the successful education of students in the public school system. Particular emphasis has been placed on governance structure, the meeting of educational standards, and accountability. However, as a practical matter, a key factor affecting students' ability to learn is their learning environment. In addition to the high achievement standards that the public school system sets, students need an environment where they can learn without physical discomfort and unnecessary distractions due to heat or outside noise. Given Hawaii's tropical climate and heat, each public school should be equipped with air conditioning to ensure that students can achieve the educational standards set for them in a comfortable environment conducive to learning.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to install air conditioning in all public schools that need it, based on a priority list and within a certain timeline.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-1501, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-1501[]] Noise and climate control at school facilities. (a) This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "First Things First Act."

[(a)] (b) The department shall plan for[,] and request appropriations necessary to implement[, acoustic] the following:

The department shall develop appropriate standards and consider local conditions for deciding whether acoustic noise control and air conditioning of existing and new school facilities are required for effective classroom instruction[.], including standards to justify why acoustic noise control or air conditioning is not needed. In all cases where acoustic treatment of school facilities is planned, the department shall utilize the services of individuals qualified by training and experience to recommend appropriate noise control procedures and components. Acoustic noise control and air conditioning shall be given equal weight as all other factors in the criteria used by the department in setting priorities for school construction and renovations.

[(b)] (c) In any case where air conditioners are installed in a particular school, the department may require that the approximate cost of electricity and maintenance for air conditioners not installed by the department of accounting and general services be paid by a private entity until the department establishes temperature and noise standards and a policy relating to air conditioning.

(d) Based upon the standards established as provided in subsection (b), by December 31, 2005, the department shall establish a priority list of schools that are in greatest need of air conditioning; provided that if any administrative office in a departmental school district has air conditioning, then the department shall include all schools in that district on the priority list to have air conditioning installed. Based on the priority list, air conditioning shall be installed in school facilities on the list as follows:

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.