STAND. COM. REP. NO.  737-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2576

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2576, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support charter schools in the State by:

(1)  Establishing an income tax credit for contributions of money or in-kind goods and services for the development of charter school facilities;

(2)  Establishing the Hawaii Charter School Facility Development Special Fund to receive public and private funds for expenditure by the State Public Charter School Commission for developing, operating, and maintaining charter school facilities; and

(3)  Appropriating funds to support the development of charter school facilities.

The State Public Charter School Commission, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian Educational Council, Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Taxation, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and an individual commented on this measure.

     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. 2576, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair