STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2712

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3094

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. 3094, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR A VIRTUAL SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the Department of Education to establish a virtual school.

More specifically, to ensure the continued availability of multiple learning options necessitated by the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the measure:

(1) Makes an emergency appropriation to the Department of Education to build a virtual school to allow for distance learning; and

(2) Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the purpose of renovations and electrical upgrades for the virtual school.

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

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

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

Your Committee finds that the disruption caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic and resulting adoption of distance learning methods have made it clear that certain students should have an option to attend school virtually.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation and general obligation bond amounts to unspecified amounts;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 3094, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3094, 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