STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3113

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2176

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2176, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a process for awarding Department of Education contracts for student transportation services and facility construction that includes public comment; and

(2) Prohibit protests and judicial review of contract awards made pursuant to the process.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that this measure is intended to support the Department of Education in awarding contracts for student transportation and education facility construction. Your Committee has heard the concerns raised in testimony, including the concerns from the State Procurement Office related to the exemption language as it means that Department of Education contracts for student transportation services and construction will not have the same oversight, accountability, and transparency required for other procurements made with public monies.

Your Committee further finds that alternative learning centers provide specialized services, such as trauma treatment, life skills training, vocational education, mental health treatment, medical services, substance abuse intervention, and mentorship programs, to meet the unique needs of at-risk youth. By offering troubled children the long-term and individualized support they need, these children can develop physically, mentally, and socially in a conducive learning environment.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language that:

(1) Appropriates $520,000 to fund existing alternative learning centers or alternative learning schools within the Department of Education;

(2) Appropriates $260,000 to fund a new alternative learning school within the Nanakuli-Waianae school complex area;

(3) Appropriates $200,000 for the planning and designing of alternative learning schools in each of the remaining school complex areas in the State; and

(4) Appropriates $150,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to be the Director of Alternative Learning Schools within the Department of Education.

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. 2176, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2176, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair