Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1644 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide additional funding to new century charter schools for maintaining their facilities and allowing them to access state land and facilities.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by Hookakoo Corporation, Kamehameha Schools, Kalau Ku Mana, Waimea Middle School, and Kualapuu Elementary School. The Charter School Administrative Office, Department of Education, and Governor submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that many states have provided their charter schools with funding programs for facilities maintenance, and have authorized the use of unused state buildings and lands by the schools. This measure implements similar programs in Hawaii.

Recently, the Department of Accounting and General Services reported that an average of $50,000,000 was spent each year to prevent the increase of public school repair and maintenance projects. Approximately one hundred eighty thousand students are enrolled in public schools. By dividing this annual repair and maintenance figure by the public school enrollment figure, it can be determined that the Department of Education spends approximately $300 per pupil for basic level repair and maintenance. Your Committee finds this figure to be a reasonable amount to allot to new century charter schools for their facilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying the per pupil facilities amount and purpose section.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1644, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1644, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.