STAND. COM. REP. NO. 235

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 583

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 583 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) Beginning with the 2019-2021 fiscal year, reduce the percentage from 6.5 percent to 5.0 percent of the total Department of Education's operating budget that can be expended for the Department's administrative expenditures; and

(2) Increase the percent of appropriations for the total budget of the Department of Education that principals can expend from seventy percent to seventy-five percent.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that funding a quality education system in the State is challenging and requires fiscal responsibility. The Department of Education, through administrative personnel, is tasked with maximizing the use of limited resources to advance student achievement at Hawaii's public schools. This measure empowers schools in a more direct manner by providing additional resources to schools to support student success, staff success, and successful systems of support.

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 S.B. No. 583 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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