STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2322

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2166

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2166 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for grants for public schools that use alternative energy utilities on their campuses.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association and two students.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education.

     Your Committees find that the Legislature is committed to planning for the future to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  This concept of sustainability has become the focus of various efforts and initiatives, including the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force and its development of the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan.  Your Committees further find that the utilization of alternative energy sources, particularly in our public schools, can be cost-effective and extremely beneficial in reducing the State's reliance on fossil fuels.  The State must continue to explore innovative solutions for meeting our energy needs, while also balancing the need to reduce our environmental footprint.  This measure recognizes the need to strike a balance of State needs through the appropriation of funds for grants to public schools that use alternative energy utilities on their campuses, such as through the Sun Power for Schools Program currently undertaken by the Hawaiian Electric Company or other similar programs or efforts.

     Your Committees are mindful that the State must consider the financial needs of the State across all subject matter, programs, and public needs.  Rather than supplant general funds earmarked for other appropriate, necessary purposes, utilization of funding from other sources should instead be considered.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the measure to appropriate funds from the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund for the provision of grants to public schools that use alternative energy utilities on their campuses; and

     (2)  Specifying that the funds appropriated shall be expended by the Public Utilities Commission, which shall consult with the Department of Education in developing the criteria for and awarding grants under the measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2166, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2166, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Energy and Environment,

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair