STAND. COM. REP. NO. 736

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 329

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SCHOOL FACILITIES AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify that the School Facilities Authority is responsible for certain development, planning, and construction projects for prekindergarten, preschool, and child care facilities, as well as workforce housing;

(2) Authorize the School Facilities Authority to develop workforce housing for teachers on land not owned by the Department of Education;

(3) Allow the School Facilities Authority to use the Department of Education for certain recruitment and hiring responsibilities; and

(4) Allow the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private development agencies to develop prekindergarten facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the School Facilities Authority and Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Education; Department of the Attorney General; Office of Information Practice; and Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the statutory authority delegated to the School Facilities Authority could be carried out with greater efficiency if amendments were made. This measure clarifies the responsibilities of the School Facilities Authority to better carry out its statutory duties and responsibilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have specified certain responsibilities of the School Facilities Authority under chapter 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Clarifying that the School Facilities Authority is responsible for projects related to:

(A) Certain facilities for prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning programs;

(B) Workforce housing; and

(C) Any public school development, planning, and construction assigned by the Legislature, Governor, or Board of Education; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 329, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair