HB17 SD1

SECTION 1. Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004 (Act 51), as amended by Act 221, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, as amended by Act 22, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, and as amended by Act 225, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, required the implementation of a new allocation method, the weighted student formula to distribute funds to schools based upon the characteristics of the school's students. Act 51, as amended, also created the committee on weights, whose responsibility is to recommend an allocation formula and various weights of characteristics to the board of education. The board of education is required to review the formula annually and recommend changes if necessary.

The committee on weights has been in existence for two years. During this time, it has become apparent that schools, principals, and school community councils would benefit from knowing that their funding will be consistent over a two-year period. The legislature finds that this stability in funding would help schools develop and implement academic and financial plans to improve student achievement.

The purpose of this Act is to require that the committee on weights to meet to review the weighted student formula annually; provided that recommendations for changes to the weighted student formula shall be made at least biennially; provided further that the rationale for recommended changes to the weighted student formula shall be provided by the committee on weights to the board of education.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-1303.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established within the department [of ~~education~~] the committee on weights to develop a weighted student formula pursuant to section 302A-1303.6. The committee shall:

(1) Create a list of student characteristics that will be weighted;

(2) Create a system of weights based upon the student characteristics that may be applied to determine the relative cost of educating any student;

(3) Determine specific student weights, including their unit value;

(4) Determine which moneys shall be included in the amount of funds to be allocated through the weighted student formula;

(5) Recommend a weighted student formula to the board [~~of education~~];

(6) Perform any other function that may facilitate the implementation of the weighted student formula; and

(7) Meet not less than annually to review the weighted student formula and, if the committee deems it necessary, recommend a new weighted student formula for adoption by the board [~~of education.~~];

provided that the committee on weights shall provide the board and the legislature with rationale for any findings and recommendations made, including changes to the weighted student formula and weighted student formula characteristics or weights for those characteristics, and the effects and costs associated with any recommended changes."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-1303.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-1303.6 Weighted student formula. Based upon recommendations from the committee on weights, the board [~~of education~~], not less than [~~annually,~~] biennially, shall adopt a weighted student formula for the allocation of moneys to public schools that takes into account the educational needs of each student. The department, upon the receipt of appropriated moneys, shall use the weighted student formula to allocate funds to public schools. Principals shall expend moneys provided to the principals' schools. This section shall only apply to charter schools for fiscal years in which the charter schools elect pursuant to section 302B-13 to receive allocations according to the weighted student formula."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	17
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1