STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1204

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 533

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 533, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require a local investor-owned electric utility that implements a planned public safety power shutoff program to provide and fund support to public schools impacted by the program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Hawaiian Electric.

Your Committee finds that a local investor‑owned electric utility's planned public safety power shutoff program aims to reduce wildfire risks by proactively shutting off power in high-risk areas during specific weather conditions. Your Committee further finds that the implementation of this program poses challenges for public schools as outages may disrupt essential services. This measure appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by the planned public safety power shutoff program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the requirement that an investor-owned electric utility provide and fund support to public schools impacted by the planned public safety power shutoff program;

(2) Adding a general fund appropriation of an unspecified amount for the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by the planned public safety power shutoff program;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes the Department of Education's written testimony, which indicates the need for an appropriation in the amount of $1,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support impacted schools pursuant to this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 533, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 533, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair