STAND. COM. REP. NO.  78

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 595

      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. 595 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase accountability and transparency within the Department of Education (DOE) by appropriating funds to improve its technology systems and infrastructure, including:

     (1)  Providing an integrated comprehensive student support              system; and

     (2)  Expanding the State's high capacity network to                 accommodate increasing needs in the use of technology in      the classrooms.

     DOE and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Adding an appropriation of $1,000,000 for fiscal year              2007-2008 and $125,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for a         facilities asset management system to link DOE's                   facilities inventory with condition assessments, and               track and prioritize major and minor repairs to all           school facilities;

     (2)  Adding an appropriation of $262,560 for fiscal year            2007-2008 for staff, training, supplies, and equipment        for a fee-for-service pilot program with DOE's Office of        Technology Services to provide technology assistance to         schools, school complexes, and complex areas; and

     (3)  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. 595, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 595, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair