STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3041

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2816

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2816, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a pilot program to provide grants for eligible students to pay for education expenses, including to purchase technological devices and services, pay fees for standardized tests and college applications, and pay for textbooks, approved therapies, and supplemental education services.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Public Charter Schools Commission, HawaiiKidsCAN, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that many students, especially those in low-income families, have experienced decreased academic performance due to changes caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Your Committee further finds that this measure will offer those families affordable access to vital learning materials and services necessary to offset recent learning losses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding an unspecified end date for the pilot program;

(2) Clarifying that eligible education expenses for supplemental education services are those permitted under the Hawaii State Constitution;

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

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 2816, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2816, 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