STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1214

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 246

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 246, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Specify that the rental or lease of facilities be considered by the Legislature when deciding upon an appropriation and bond authorization to the State Public Charter School Commission; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the State Public Charter School Commission to allocate to charter schools for infrastructure costs, lease or rent assistance, and repair and maintenance of network infrastructure.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Public Charter School Commission, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii State Teachers Association, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, Hālau Kū Māna New Century Public Charter School, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Connections Public Charter School, Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science Public Charter School, Kua O Ka Lā New Century Public Charter School, Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, School For Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability Public Charter School, Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Iki Lab Public Charter School, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Ke Kula ‘o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School, Ke Ea Hawai‘i, and many individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. A few individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified amount; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 246, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 246, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair