Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3196 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to divide its school facility capital improvement project priority lists into two lists, schools constructed over twenty-five years ago and schools constructed in the last twenty-five years.

Testimony in support of the measure was presented by the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that this measure will enable the Department of Education to move forward with its overall school repair and maintenance goals.

Your Committee recognizes the Department of Education's concerns that dividing its capital improvement priority lists into two categories is unnecessary; that because school facility capital improvement project funds are limited, this measure may dilute the overall emergency moneys available for repair and maintenance; and that funds should be used to address the most urgent projects, regardless of the age of the school. Your Committee notes, however, that the provisions of this measure are one way to move forward on the overall goal of improving all of our schools with major construction and not primarily new schools or expanding newer schools.

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. 3196 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.