SB76 SD2

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	76
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. It is the State's duty to provide its public school students with an environment that is conducive to learning. Despite the tropical climate in Hawaii, many public school facilities are not equipped with air conditioning or other suitable temperature reduction systems. This can produce unbearably hot classrooms that may hinder a child's academic abilities.

The increasing cost of oil and the growing demand for electricity make the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy technology an important conservation initiative. Currently, state law requires the State to establish policies designed to increase energy self-sufficiency and energy security, including the use of renewable energy resources. Hawaii has many potential sources of renewable energy, including wind, solar, geothermal, ocean thermal energy conversion, and wave energy.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to develop a plan to implement temperature reduction measures in public school facilities within the State, that also incorporate energy conservation initiatives.

SECTION 2. (a) Notwithstanding section 302A-1501, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the department of education shall develop a plan to provide temperature reduction measures for public school facilities within the State, that incorporate energy conservation initiatives. The plan shall contemplate a budget of $200,000,000 over the next ten years and shall include analyses of and recommendations on the incorporation of some or all of the following:

(1) Utilization of temperature reduction measures, which may include air conditioning, tinted window glass, insulation, reflective roofing, trees or other vegetation for shade, and wooden louvers;

(2) Use of energy conservation initiatives throughout public school facilities;

(3) Use of wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal energy, ocean thermal energy conversion, and wave energy technologies;

(4) Creation of incentives for schools to reduce electrical energy consumption or costs, or both, including returning up to fifty per cent of the savings at each school to the school for its own use;

(5) Development of long-term plans to reduce usage or costs, or both, related to electricity, gas, and water, including the construction of new infrastructures;

(4) Establishment of energy reduction usage or cost goals, or both, for all public school facilities and timelines for attaining those goals; and

(5) Providing for the implementation of energy efficient lights, appliances, or other fixtures in all public school facilities.

(b) The department of education shall contract with a private engineering firm, or any other appropriate entity, to assist in the development of the plan for providing temperature reduction measures in public school facilities, which incorporate energy conservation initiatives and other objectives, as enumerated in subsection (a). The energy, resources, and technology division of the department of business, economic development, and tourism shall provide any necessary assistance to the department of education in the development of the plan.

(c) The department of education shall submit a report on the status of the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session, and shall submit a final report and the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

SECTION 3. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal years 2007-2008, and 2008‑2009, for the department of education to develop and initiate implementation of a plan to provide temperature reduction measures in public school facilities in the State that incorporate energy conservation initiatives and address the objectives enumerated in this Act.

SECTION 4. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2010, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.