STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 354-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2743

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2743, 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 revitalize school facilities statewide and to more effectively and efficiently use our taxpayers' investment in public education. Specifically, this bill provides for the timely construction, expansion, consolidation, or closure of public schools in Hawaii through an objective and transparent process that:

(1) Includes the establishment of a Facilities Alignment Commission (Commission) that shall:

(a) Establish criteria for the selection of public schools to be constructed, expanded, consolidated, or closed; and

(b) Recommend, based upon these criteria, a list of areas for new school construction, and of schools for expansion, consolidation, or closure, that is subject to the review of the Legislature;

(2) Directs the Board of Education to proceed with the process of constructing, expanding, consolidating, or closing schools according to the recommendations of the Commission; and

(3) Appropriates funds for the expenses of the Commission.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association and First Hawaiian Bank supported the intent of this measure. The Land Use Commission offered comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2743, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

		____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair