STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1693

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 496

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 496, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help ensure the efficient and effective operation and administration of charter schools by, among other things:

     (1)  Clarifying that charter schools shall comply with Board of Education (BOE) and Department of Education directives made in their role as the state education agency, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement; and

     (2)  Eliminating the per-pupil funding method, thus requiring charter schools to follow the same budgetary request process as other state agencies.

     The Department of Budget and Finance and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  BOE, the Charter School Administrative Office, Kamehameha Schools, Hookakoo, Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii Charter Schools Network, and Halau Lokahi Public Charter School provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing the appropriation for charter school operations; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 496, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 496, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair