Report Title:

DOE; DLNR; School Closure or Consolidation

Description:

Requires the department of education to conduct a cost benefit analysis and determine the cost savings of school closures or consolidations.  Requires fifty per cent of the actual fiscal savings to be retained by the new configuration of affected schools for a period of not less than five years.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	952
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to school closures or consolidationS.

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

     SECTION 1.  School closures and consolidations are driven by scales of economy but are always accompanied by school and community resistance based on assorted legitimate concerns.  School closures or consolidations can be best accomplished effectively if the benefits to the system are balanced with benefits to the individual schools and communities.

     The purpose of this Act is to mandate the department of education to conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine the expected cost savings of closure or consolidation, and to require that fifty per cent of the actual fiscal savings be retained by the new configuration of affected schools for a period of not less than five years.  The fiscal savings shall be computed by adding the total costs of the affected schools in the last year of operation at individual schools.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   School closures or consolidations. (a)  The department, in consultation with the department of land and natural resources and any other governmental agencies, shall conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine the expected cost savings of a school closure or school consolidation.  The department shall submit a report on its analysis, findings, and recommendations on each proposed school closure or school consolidation to the board of education for its review and approval.

(b)  If any school closure or school consolidation occurs, fifty per cent of the actual fiscal savings shall be retained by the new configuration of affected schools for a period of not less than five years.  For purposes of this section, fiscal savings shall be computed by adding the total costs of the affected schools in the last year of operation at individual schools."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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