STAND. COM. REP. NO.  36

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 21

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 21 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to limit asbestos testing to suspected asbestos-containing materials, as required by the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (Asbestos Act), prior to any exterior or interior renovations or painting of school facilities.

     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.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying the purpose language of the bill;

(2)  Clarifying that asbestos testing is to be conducted on all suspected asbestos-containing materials, including exterior surfaces, and as required by the Asbestos Act for interior surfaces;

(3)  Extending the requirement to conversion charter schools; and

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

     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. 21, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 21, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair