STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1239

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 197

      S.D. 1

      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 S.B. No. 197, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address overcrowding in Hawaii's public schools by providing funding for start-up grants to assist one or more new pre-opening public charter schools.

The State Public Charter School Commission; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc.; The Maritime Group, LLC; Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, Kamehameha Schools; and an individual supported this measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association and IMUAlliance opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Education respectfully notes that $250,000 is the estimated amount of funds needed for start-up grants to assist pre-opening public charter schools.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 197, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 197, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair