STAND. COM. REP. NO. 953

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 465

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. 465, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Auditor to conduct an audit of the academic and financial plans of the Department of Education.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce, HE`E Coalition, and one individual.

The Department of Education and Office of the Auditor submitted written comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that it would be more productive to narrow the scope of the audit in order to increase the relevance and utility of the information gleaned from the audit.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the scope of the audit to focus on policies and procedures put in place by the Board of Education and Department of Education to support schools in meeting the goals and statewide student success indicators outlined in the 2017-2020 strategic plan of the Board and Department;

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

(3) 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. 465, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 465, 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