STAND. COM. REP. NO. 595

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 372

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.B. No. 372, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Auditor to perform an annual operational audit of the academic and financial plans of the Department of Education to be submitted to the Legislature;

(2) Require the Department of Education to contract with a third party consultant that specializes in school finance to perform a study of the adequacy of education funding in the State to be submitted to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the audit and study.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hui for Excellence in Education, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds an annual operational audit of the academic and financial plans of the Department of Education will increase transparency from the Department of Education and help to identify the financial and management needs of the Department schools. Your Committee further finds that a study of the adequacy of education funding in the State will better inform how funding is used to enhance the quality of education for students in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 372, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

____________________________

DALE T. KOBAYASHI, Chair