STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3240

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 189

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 189 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A STATE LOTTERY TO FUND HAWAII'S PUBLIC EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study the feasibility of a state lottery to fund Hawaii's public education.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that Hawaii is unique compared to the other states as public education is a responsibility of the State, as opposed to a county or local level jurisdiction. Your Committees further find that because jurisdiction for public education is with the State, funding for public education is primarily sourced from the general fund and is often inadequate as evidenced by Hawaii's ranking as lowest in the nation for education expenditures. Your Committees believe that the means of funding public education must be expanded in order to support and better prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue secondary education. Your Committees note that forty-four states utilize state lotteries to fund a certain amount of public education. Your Committees believe that these states serve as an example and demonstrate that a state lottery has the potential to fund public education in Hawaii and should be explored as an option.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 189 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Education,

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair