STAND. COM. REP. NO.916

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 360

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 360 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REUSABLE RESOURCE CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a reusable resource center to collect and distribute recyclable materials for use by public school teachers, parents, and others as tools for learning in classrooms, homes, and the community.

The bill also requires the Department of Education to: develop private-public partnerships for the planning, development, staffing, operation, and management of the center; explore the feasibility of establishing incentive for participation by the private sector; and establish satellite centers in each county, as needed.

Your Committee finds that this type of resource recycling center has been used with great success in other states, in a win-win partnership between teachers, who receive useful recycled educational materials at minimal cost, and private industry, which has reduced waste and earned tax deductions. The benefits of recycling are taught in our schools and stressed in our island community. By establishing this center, the State will be helping to provide an abundance of hands-on teaching materials for our schools and the community while supporting the values of recycling and reducing waste.

Your Committee approves of the broad scope of this bill, which applies not only to public schools but to day care centers, Head Start programs, colleges and universities, theaters, and museums. Your Committee also approves of the concept of satellite resource centers in all counties, as needed.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 360 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair