STAND. COM. REP. NO. 683

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1669

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1669, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund and reduce the backlog of Department of Education repair and maintenance projects.

     This measure also temporarily exempts the Department of Education from the procurement and competitive bidding provisions of chapters 103 and 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in order to expedite the repair and maintenance capital improvement projects.

     Your Committee finds that the growing backlog of Department of Education's repair and maintenance projects has a detrimental effect on student learning.  School facilities in disrepair diminish school pride and foster a lack of respect for school property by students.  Additionally, the failure to repair relatively small projects now, may lead to larger more expensive repairs in the future.  The general obligation bonds authorized under this measure will address these problems and provide the necessary funds to repair and maintain the facilities of the Department of Education.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting the provision authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriation of funds for fiscal year 2011-2012;

(2)  Clarifying that the Department of Education is required to develop internal policies and procedures for the procurement of goods and services relating to construction projects;

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2090, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1669, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1669, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair