STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1500

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.C.R. No. 81

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 81 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FINANCE TO STUDY THE PER-PUPIL FUNDING SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SYSTEM ENSURES EQUITABLE FUNDING AMONG ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHETHER AN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM MAY ACHIEVE GREATER FUNDING PARITY AND FINANCIAL AND LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen public charter schools in Hawaii by requesting the Department of Budget and Finance (B&F) to study the per-pupil funding system for public charter schools to determine whether the system ensures equitable funding among all public schools and whether an alternative system may achieve greater funding parity and financial and long-term operational sustainability for public charter schools.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, Kamehameha Schools, Na Lei Naauao Alliance, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The State Public Charter School Commission supported the intent of the measure.  A concerned individual opposed the measure.  The Department of Education and B&F submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Extending from June 30, 2017, to December 1, 2017, the deadline by which the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission are requested to provide specified data to B&F, to permit B&F to focus its study and complete it in a timely manner; and

     (2)  Requesting B&F to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020, rather than the Regular Session of 2019.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 81, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 81, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair