THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2517
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to charter schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the state public charter school commission shall be authorized to request the issuance of general obligation bonds from the director of finance and allocate the proceeds of any issuance of bonds to assist public charter schools with the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of charter school facilities.

     (b)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the proceeds of any issuance of bonds may be allocated to various public charter schools irrespective of whether or not a specific project or purpose has been provided for in a legislative act authorizing the issuance of bonds; provided that the state public charter school commission shall allocate the proceeds of any issuance of bonds pursuant to criteria created by, and based upon the prioritization schedule of, the charter school facilities funding working group pursuant to subsection (d).

     (c)  There is established a charter school facilities funding working group, which shall consist of the:

     (1)  Chairperson of the state public charter school commission, or the chairperson's designee;

     (2)  Executive director of the state public charter school commission, or the executive director's designee;

     (3)  Director of finance, or the director's designee;

     (4)  Chair of the senate committee on ways and means, or the chair's designee; and

     (5)  Chair of the house of representatives committee on finance, or the chair's designee.

     (d)  The working group shall determine criteria for and prioritize the allocation of the proceeds of any issuance of general obligation bonds for public charter school facilities, based in part on the performance and need of the public charter schools.

     (e)  Unless otherwise required by law, any public charter school facilities constructed, in whole or in part, through the proceeds of the issuance of general obligation bonds shall be owned by the State.

     (f)  Moneys appropriated for capital improvements projects pursuant to this Act or any legislative act hereinafter authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school facilities shall be considered expended upon distribution to the state public charter school commission.

     (g)  The state public charter school commission shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.  The report shall include the following:

     (1)  Summary of the criteria used by the commission in allocating the proceeds of the general obligation bonds;

     (2)  Detailed breakdown of the allocation of the proceeds of the general obligation bonds to the public charter schools; and

     (3)  Detailed list of projects funded through the proceeds of the general obligation bonds.

     SECTION 2.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the purpose of assisting state public charter schools with the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of school facilities pursuant to this Act.

     SECTION 3.  The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2016, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014; provided that section 1 shall be repealed on June 30, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

State Public Charter School Commission; Facilities Funding; General Obligation Bonds; Appropriation

Description:

Authorizes the state public charter school commission to request the issuance of general obligation bonds from the director of finance and to allocate the proceeds for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school facilities.  Creates a working group to determine criteria for and to prioritize the allocation of general obligation bond proceeds to the public charters schools.  Specifies that public charter school facilities funded through the proceeds of general obligation bonds are owned by the State.  Requires the state public charter school commission to report annually to the legislature.  Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the state public charter school commission.  Repeals on June 30, 2024.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.