STAND. COM. REP. NO. 975-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 3026
                                     S.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No.
3026, S.D. 1, entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve public school
facilities by:

     (1)  Establishing the State Educational Facilities Repair
          and Maintenance Special Fund to eliminate the backlog
          of school repair and maintenance projects existing on
          June 30, 2000;

     (2)  Establishing the School Physical Plant Operations and
          Maintenance Special Fund to pay for school repairs and
          cyclical maintenance projects scheduled after June 30,
          2000;

     (3)  Specifying how school repair and maintenance moneys are
          to be prioritized and allocated;

     (4)  Establishing departmental school district business and
          fiscal officers to oversee school facilities planning;
          and 

     (5)  Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds
          for these special funds.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 975-00
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     The Hawaii Association of Realtors supported this bill.  The
Department of Education, Hawaii Government Employees Association,
the Department of Accounting and General Services, and the
Department of Budget and Finance supported the intent of this
bill.

     Your Committee finds that there currently exists a four-year
backlog of school maintenance projects that need funding.  This
bill is a very positive effort to provide funds for these much
needed projects.  Schools need to be properly maintained in order
to be safe, productive places of learning.  Both major and
aesthetic repairs promote greater productivity and school morale.
For these reasons, your Committee supports this bill.

     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.
3026, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair