STAND. COM. REP. NO. 243

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 144

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 144, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A SCHOOL SUPPLY SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the purchase of school supplies for low-income families.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Education to establish and implement a one-year school supply subsidy pilot program at Naalehu Elementary School; and

(2) Appropriates funds for the program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that implementing a one-year school supply subsidy pilot program at Naalehu Elementary School, where many students are children from low-income families, would help to identify methods for relieving the financial burden of education on these families and contribute to the creation of a successful learning environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 144, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 144, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair