STAND. COM. REP. NO.989

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 1211

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1211, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize a state income tax check-off dedicated to the repair and maintenance of Hawaii's public schools.

The check-off would be deducted from a taxpayer's tax refund of $2 or more and designated to a public school of the taxpayer's choice.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, HSTA, General Contractors Association of Hawaii, HGEA/AFSCME, the Department of Education, and the Department of Accounting and General Services testified in support of the measure. The Department of Taxation did not support the measure. The Department of Budget and Finance commented on the measure.

Your Committee finds that this measure would help alleviate the estimated $640,000,000 backlog of repair and maintenance. Our children, teachers and administrators deserve the best facilities to work in. Your Committee supports all efforts aimed at addressing this issue.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended the bill by using the language of the companion bill HB1666 H.D.2. This amendment would allow schools to receive up to $8,000 each from two sources—general fund appropriations and from the special fund created by this bill through the tax payer refund check off.

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. 1211, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1211, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair