STAND. COM. REP. NO.  919-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 602

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 602, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the availability of funds to improve Hawaii's school facilities.  This bill repeals the sunset date of Act 304, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, essentially requiring that $90,000,000 continue to be deposited annually to the State Educational Facilities Improvement Special Fund for public school capital improvement program needs.

     The Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Taxation opposed this measure.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to June 29, 2008.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 602, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 602, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair