STAND. COM. REP. NO. 218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1388

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1388 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to add two voting members that represent the Department of Education and the Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority Board.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Education and Department of Education.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the School Facilities Authority.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education is responsible for the daily operations of nearly two hundred fifty schools statewide. While the School Facilities Authority is the primary agency responsible for the planning, development, and construction of school facilities, the Department of Education has a statutory mandate to implement curriculum for public education. Therefore, this measure offers additional perspectives to the School Facilities Authority Board to prioritize pressing student needs while providing safe learning environments.

Your Committee further finds that there has been ongoing communication issues between the School Facilities Authority and the Department of Education. Due to the Department of Education's considerable scope, the Legislature established the School Facilities Authority to assist with capital improvement projects and the planning and construction of new school facilities. However, the School Facilities Authority has not maintained active communication with schools regarding future plans, including notification of prospective and upcoming projects. In some instances, the Department of Education did not receive notification until notified by a school principal. According to the Department of Education's testimony at the public hearing on this measure, high-level administrators, including complex area superintendents, have not been notified of projects undertaken by the School Facilities Authority that have been announced to the public. Your Committee further finds that the lapses in communication impact students, faculty, and the surrounding communities. Therefore, your Committee implores the School Facilities Authority to ensure timely communication between the Department of Education, including administration, regarding its statutory mandate to oversee public school development.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the School Facilities Authority Board shall consist of seven members; provided that the Superintendent of Education and the Chairperson of the Board of Education, or their designees, shall be ex officio members;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1388, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1388, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair