STAND. COM. REP. NO. 133

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1347

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1347 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide more accountability and transparency for state funds by:

(1) Requiring that annual charter school audits be performed by an auditor selected by the charter school authorizer; and

(2) Requiring charter schools to provide access to all or any part of financial records to the authorizer, the legislature, and other state agencies with jurisdiction over charter school funds, without payment of a fee.

The State Public Charter School Commission and a concerned individual supported this measure. Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School, Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School, Kula Aupuni Niihau A Kahelelani Aloha (Kanaka) Public Charter School, Ka Huli o Haloa, South Maui Learning Ohana, Inc., Connections Public Charter School, Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science Public Charter School, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language that required charter schools to provide access to all or any part of records to the legislature and other state agencies with jurisdiction over charter school funds; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1347, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1347, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair