STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1575-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 3195

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3195, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that public schools receive the funds they need to provide quality education to our students by appropriating funds for:

(1) A Weighted Student Formula Conversion Program (Program) to provide supplementary funds to help public schools transition into the new spending method under the weighted student formula;

(2) Classroom supplies;

(3) Textbooks;

(4) Resources that will guide students on their path to higher education;

(5) Special education needs;

(6) English as a second language services; and

(7) Information technology needs.

The Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in support of this bill. The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this measure. Two concerned individuals offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Clarifying that a school may receive Program funds, provided that it demonstrates sufficient growth or progress toward meeting adequate yearly progress as determined by the Superintendent of Education;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 3195, 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. 3195, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

		____________________________ DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair