STAND. COM. REP. NO.  171

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 182

      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.B. No. 182 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES VII AND X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH A SURCHARGE ON RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND VISITOR ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution that would allow the Legislature to establish a surcharge on residential investment property and visitor accommodations to fund a quality public education for all of Hawaii's children.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Democratic Party Labor Caucus, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaii, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, IMUAlliance, Graduate Student Organization of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, American Resort Development Association Hawaii, Rental by Owner Awareness Association, and a few concerned individuals opposed the measure.  The City and County of Honolulu, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaii Educational Policy Center submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting all references to the particular kind of education that the State provides to the children of Hawaii;

     (2)  Deleting the proposed requirement in section 3 that the State must make sufficient sums available for public education; and

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

     Your Committee recognizes that there may be a problem with the title of the measure.  Should your Committee on Judiciary choose to hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider this issue.

     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 H.B. No. 182, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 182, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair