STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1314-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2816

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2816, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION GRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to establish and administer the Strong Students Grant Pilot Program (Pilot Program) to provide grants for eligible education expenses to eligible students and appropriate funds for the Pilot Program; and

(2) Require the Department of Education to submit progress reports on the Pilot Program to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, HawaiiKidsCAN, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been incredibly disruptive to student learning. Your Committee further finds that many residents living with at least one child under the age of eighteen have seen their combined household income decline and require financial assistance to support their child's education. This measure requires the Department of Education to establish a grant pilot program that will provide grants to eligible students for certain eligible education expenses and reduce the financial burden families have in supporting their children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that grant funds under the Pilot Program shall not be used for private school expenses;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2816, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2816, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair