STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1011

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 896

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 896, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to:

(1) Assess its facilities and provide the Legislature with a list of priority facilities in each county at which the installation of renewable energy systems on the school facilities would provide the most benefit;

(2) Provide a list of priority play areas on school campuses in each county that are most in need of covered play areas to protect children from over-exposure to heat and ultraviolet rays;

(3) Assess and report on the feasibility of including renewable energy systems on play area covers on school campuses; and

(4) Submit a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, Hawaii Environmental Change Agents' Decarbonization of Buildings Task Force, and five individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 896, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair