STAND. COM. REP. NO.  880

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 945

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 945, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address the unique needs of multi-track public schools by requiring these schools to meet the greater of 171 days or 90 percent of the minimum number of days required of other non-charter public schools for each respective school year.

     Several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Education opposed this measure.  Several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Inserting an exemption of the minimum number of required instructional hours for multi-track public schools by specifying that these schools must meet 90 percent of the number of student instructional hours required in other non-charter public schools for each school year; 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 H.B. No. 945, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 945, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair