Report Title:

Education; Repairs and Maintenance; Hawaii 3R's

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii 3R's school repair and maintenance program and the Hawaii 3R's coordinator position for each year of the fiscal biennium. (SD1)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1145

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO SCHOOL REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the backlog of repair and maintenance projects in public schools continues to be of concern and that all means of addressing the problem should be explored and supported.

     The legislature finds that Hawaii 3R's, has saved the State money by completing repair and maintenance projects at public schools.  Hawaii 3R's generates savings for the State by leveraging state grant funds with federal funds, private donations, and volunteerism or "sweat equity" from various community organizations and businesses.

     Since its inception in 2001, Hawaii 3R's has saved the State over $15.5 million.  This figure is determined by taking the State's estimated cost of the repair and maintenance projects completed in Hawaii 3R's projects ($18 million) and subtracting the amount of state grant funds appropriated ($2.468 million).  This means that for every State dollar invested in Hawaii 3R's, over $7 worth of work is completed.  It is also noteworthy that Hawaii 3R's has statewide reach, with two hundred sixty-two grants awarded to one hundred twenty different schools on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, and Hawaii.

     The legislature also finds that the public-private partnership between the State and Hawaii 3R's is effective and essential to the success of the program.  Specifically, the legislature finds that a coordinator position within the department of education would provide Hawaii 3R's with expertise, support, quick responses, and access to state resources and information.  The coordinator position would also add visibility and positive media coverage to the efforts of the State.

     The legislature acknowledges that Hawaii 3R's has built a partnership with the Joint Venture Education Forum, a partnership between the department of education and the United States Pacific Command.  This relationship benefits not only military-impacted or military-partnered schools but all of Hawaii's public schools through increased military partnerships.  Through the federal Joint Venture Education Forum funding, Hawaii 3R's can provide grants to over one hundred military-impacted, dependent, partnered schools.

     The legislature is encouraged by the level of support that the community has given to Hawaii 3R's and, more importantly, to the public schools.  Skilled and unskilled volunteer labor from the military, civic clubs, churches, teachers, parents, and students, combined with donations from community restaurants and businesses, have all contributed to the success of Hawaii 3R's.  Also, trade unions and associations have been lending invaluable support.  Overall, over two thousand five hundred people have provided over ten thousand hours of volunteer labor.

     The legislature understands that it is necessary to continue to provide state funding for Hawaii 3R's to fund grants that cannot be funded through Hawaii 3R's other funding sources.  Hawaii 3R's has proven to be a worthy means of investing in the condition of public school facilities and has proven to be efficient by keeping administrative costs below ten per cent of overall expenses.

     Finally, the legislature finds that appropriating public funds to Hawaii 3R's serves the public purpose of expediting the repair and maintenance of Hawaii's public schools.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to Hawaii 3R's as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended the department of education through the Hawaii 3R's school repair and maintenance fund for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for a position within the department of education to coordinate the public and private efforts to repair and maintain public schools; provided that the coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the superintendent of education and that chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not apply to any action taken by the superintendent pursuant to this section.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 5.  It is the intent of this Act not to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid nor to impair the obligation of the State or any agency thereof to the holders of any bond issued by the State or by any such agency, and to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict provisions of this Act, but shall promptly report any such modification with reasons therefore to the legislature at its next session thereafter for review by the legislature.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.