STAND. COM. REP. NO. 817

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 49

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 49, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend and repeal sections of chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to education, for purposes of housekeeping and efficiency.

The Department of Education submitted written comments in support of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted written comments in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will add clarity to chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and resolve conflicting or inconsistent statutory language.  Your Committee also finds that retaining the language in section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that requires the Department of Education to establish alternative routes for principal and vice-principal certification will allow the Department to continue to meet the qualification requirements for the federal Race to the Top competitive grant award.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting the section of the bill that would have provided an exemption from the five per cent central service expense deduction for the Hawaii 3R's school repair and maintenance fund and the after-school plus program revolving fund;

(2)  Deleting the sections of the bill that repealed the reporting requirements in sections 36-32, 36-36, 302A-1004, and 302A-1312, Hawaii Revised Statutes, so that the Department of Education or the Superintendent of Education will continue to submit reports to various entities;

(3)  Deleting amendments to section 302A-603(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, because the section is being repealed in its entirety in the measure;

(4)  Restoring language in section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that requires the Department of Education to establish alternative routes to certification for principals and vice-principals;

(5)  Deleting the section that would have repealed section 302A-1103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes the authority and responsibility of principals;

(6)  Making conforming amendments for repealed sections; and

(7)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 49, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 49, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair