SB2892

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Ke Kula ‘o ‘Ehunuikaimalino (KKOE), a Hawaiian immersion public charter school, is in high demand. KKOE was established with federal assistance under the Native Hawaiian Education Act and is federally mandated to accept all students. Currently, KKOE's student enrollment greatly exceeds the physical capacity of KKOE's campus, which is situated in Kealakekua, on the Island of Hawai‘i. Act 6, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020 (Act 6), appropriated $2,000,000 to the department of education for purposes of land acquisition to expand the KKOE campus. These funds have not yet been expended.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a working group to address the student enrollment, capacity, and expansion needs of KKOE, and develop a plan to utilize the funds appropriated under Act 6.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the Ke Kula ‘o ‘Ehunuikaimalino working group to explore and plan measures to address the student enrollment, capacity, and expansion needs of KKOE, and utilize the funds appropriated under Act 6.

(b) The working group, guided by the mission of KKOE and the December 20, 2018, draft Department of Education Facility Master Plan – Hawaii District Needs Priority report, shall explore and develop a plan to address the student enrollment, capacity, and expansion needs of KKOE, and utilize the funds appropriated under Act 6. This plan shall identify, address, and make recommendations, as appropriate, on the following:

(1) Current student enrollment figures, future student enrollment projections, and resulting physical capacity needs of KKOE, at present and in the future;

(2) Options to address capacity needs without physical expansion of the KKOE campus, if and to the extent practicable;

(3) Options to utilize the funds appropriated under Act 6;

(4) Potential land acquisition targets, and for each target, identify and address:

(A) Due diligence matters;

(B) Options for structuring the acquisition or acquisitions; and

(C) Circumstances that could delay or hinder the acquisition and development of potential land acquisition targets, including community concerns, environmental issues, permitting requirements, and any other reasonably foreseeable obstacles, and measures to address the same;

(5) Options for additional funding, if any, to address the enrollment, capacity, and expansion needs of KKOE;

(6) Anticipated acquisition and development timelines;

(7) Near and long-term actions to address the enrollment, capacity, and expansion needs of KKOE, and utilize the funds appropriated under Act 6; and

(8) Any other issues that may arise, pursuant to the discretion of the working group.

(1) The member of the Senate representing the applicable geographic area, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;

(2) The complex area superintendent of the Hawai‘i District Honoka‘a Kealakehe Kohala Konawaena Complex Area, or their designee, who shall serve as a co-vice chair of the working group;

(3) The principal of KKOE, or their designee, who shall serve as a co-vice chair of the working group;

(4) One member of the KKOE administrative staff who is not the principal;

(5) One member of the KKOE teaching staff;

(6) One representative of Hui Mākua;

(7) One representative of the student body; and

(8) Any other individual designated by the chairperson or co-chairpersons.

(d) The working group may request information and assistance from the department of education, department of land and natural resources, and the department of the attorney general to provide expertise and assist the working group in addressing matters within the purview of the working group.

(e) The working group shall meet at places and times determined by the chair, and shall report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.

(f) The members of the working group shall serve without

compensation but shall be reimbursed for the expenses, including travel expenses, reasonably and necessarily incurred for the performance of their duties.

(g) No member of the working group shall be subject to

chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the

member's participation in the working group.

(h) The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2023.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2892
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII