STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2116

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2699

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. 2699 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii 3R's to expedite repair and maintenance in the public schools.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii 3R's, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Kanu o ka ‘Āina Learning ‘Ohana.

     Your Committee finds that the enormous backlog of repair and maintenance projects of the Department of Education has been well documented.  Since 2001, Hawaii 3R's has worked tirelessly to assist the State in providing necessary repair and maintenance work that has saved the taxpayers millions of dollars while providing safe, nurturing learning environments for our keiki.  In 2003, the Legislature, pursuant to Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, established the Hawaii 3R's School Repair and Maintenance Fund to fund grants to organizations or contracts with private vendors for the repair and maintenance of public schools.  Your Committee is pleased with the work Hawaii 3R's has completed and the community support that Hawaii 3R's has garnered in carrying out its mission.

     Hawaii 3R's is currently embarking on a new partnership with The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii to expand the resources available to Hawaii 3R's through the Chamber's business membership.  This measure appropriates funds to support this new endeavor, which will expand Hawaii 3R's ability to successfully contribute to the improved condition of our public schools.

     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. 2699 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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