STAND. COM. REP. NO. 179

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 886

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 886 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESS MANAGERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of business managers for each school complex area within the Department of Education.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education (DOE), the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

     Your Committee finds that schools, complexes, and complex areas are becoming increasingly responsible for added financial responsibilities that require specialized knowledge in finance and business management.  The fulfillment of these duties often detracts the focus from the conventional concerns of a school, including the curriculum and the promotion of student achievement.  According to the DOE, the business and district fiscal officer positions that may have been helpful in assisting the schools, complexes, and complex areas in addressing financial issues no longer exist.  Your Committee further finds that with the advent of the weighted student formula, and the increased control provided to school administrators, the assistance of highly qualified individuals with business backgrounds will empower the schools, complexes, and complex areas to more efficiently and effectively manage their finances and operations.

     Your Committee determines that the duties of the complex area business managers should remain within the purview of the DOE and should reflect those duties that are specified in the purpose section of the measure.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting references in the law to district and business fiscal officer positions within the DOE, as the positions no longer exist;

     (2)  Specifying that the powers and duties of the complex area business managers shall be as prescribed by the DOE; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity 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 S.B. No. 886, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 886, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair