STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1305

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   S.B. No. 553

      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. 553, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide funding to remote schools on a more equitable basis by:

 

     (1)  Authorizing, subject to legislative appropriations, a remote school to receive supplemental categorical funding to support additional instruction and support staff; and

 

     (2)  Specifying that any supplemental categorical funding provided to a remote school must be in addition to the allocation determined under the weighted student formula that is made to the remote school.

 

     We Are One, Inc.; Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; a Council member of the Maui County Council representing East Maui; and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Education supported the intent of the measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported the measure with amendments.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

 

     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.

 

     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. 553, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 553, 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