STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2019

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2685

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2685 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to develop and implement a plan for temperature reduction measures in public school facilities that incorporates energy conservation initiatives and appropriate funds for that purpose.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Kanu o ka ‘Äina Learning ‘Ohana.

     Your Committee finds that although Hawaii's tropical climate is ideal for outdoor recreational activities, it is not necessarily conducive to learning for public school students.  Many of Hawaii's public schools are not equipped with air conditioning or other temperature reduction measures, which can make the classroom environments uncomfortable and even unbearable for students and teachers alike.  Your Committee further finds that it is important to provide public school students with comfortable learning environments.  However, your Committee understands that the task of providing air conditioning in all public school facilities within the State may be too daunting and expensive of a proposition at this time.  Alternatively, a comprehensive approach to the issue can be developed, including alternative methods for reducing the temperature of classrooms that would also incorporate energy conservation initiatives.

     Your Committee believes that creative and innovative methods for establishing suitable classroom environments for students may be utilized, including the use of alternative energy resources, incentives for energy consumption or cost reduction, alternative materials for buildings, and other energy efficient measures.  The Department of Education should seek the expertise of knowledgeable individuals or firms in the development of the plan to ensure the most cost-effective and efficient methods are being used.  Additionally, the Department of Education should consider incorporating industry standard benchmarks in energy and environmental design, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the California High Performing Schools criteria, and relevant model legislation in Washington on the issue.

     Your Committee believes that this measure should be expanded to include all public school facilities in the State, including charter schools, and has amended this measure to reflect the same.

     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 S.B. No. 2685, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2685, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair