STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2995

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 1905
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred H.B. No. 1905, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a pilot project
that requires moneys collected by any public school from rental
fees for usage of facilities, to be deposited with that school
rather than in the general fund.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that currently, rental fees and service
charges applicable to the use of public school buildings,
facilities, and grounds are determined by the Superintendent of
Education to recover costs.  Of the net receipts, 70% is
allocated to the school and 30% to the district office to assist
schools that service type 1 and type 2 users paying no rental fee
for use of facilities.

     The Department of Education (DOE) expressed concerns of
inequities that may arise if schools, in their discretion, are
permitted to rent facilities on their own.  Therefore, your
Committee requests that the DOE develop guidelines to ensure the
fair use of school facilities for non-profit agencies, including
type 1 and type 2 users.  Type 1 users are organizations such as

 
a                                                     HB1905 SD1
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2995
                                   Page 2


the Parent, Teacher, Student Association; school community-based
councils; DOE inservice workshops; A+ programs; and primary and
general elections.  Type 2 users are organizations such as
federal, state, and county agencies; non-profit community
organizations; youth athletic teams; private pre-school and after
school programs endorsed by the DOE; public hearings and
meetings; and other educational or recreational activities
approved by the school where no fees are assessed or collected.
It is your committee's intent that communities continue to
support these organizations.

     Your Committee amended the measure by:

     (1)  Reducing, from 80% to 70%, the net receipts collected
          by a public school from rental fees for usage of
          facilities;

     (2)  Adding a requirement that 30% of the net receipts be
          allocated to the district office to assist schools that
          service type 1 and type 2 users;

     (3)  Deleting all references to the Department of Accounting
          and General Services;

     (4)  Subjecting type 1 and type 2 users to the rental fee
          schedule set by the DOE rather than the fee schedules
          set by the schools;

     (5)  Allowing a school to reduce rental fees in view of any
          improvements made by a renter; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education and Technology that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 1905, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B.
No. 1905, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means.


 
a                                                     HB1905 SD1
 
 
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2995
                                   Page 3


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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
a                                                     HB1905 SD1