STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3530

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2453

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2453, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for start-up grants for new pre-opening public charter schools.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, Kamehameha Schools, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and IMUAlliance.

 

     Your Committee finds that public charter schools can often be established and begin operations in less time than a new public school that is under the direct control of the Department of Education, and that the creation of new public charter schools can help alleviate crowded conditions at certain public schools.  Although the State previously provided start-up grants to assist public charter schools with their pre-opening costs, state assistance is not currently available to help the schools meet their pre-opening challenges.  Providing start-up grants to new public charter schools would help address high start-up costs, facilitate the opening of new schools, help address crowding in other public schools, and thus benefit all of Hawaii's public school students.

 

     Your Committee notes that the amount appropriated by this measure should not be construed as intended to assist only one public charter school.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting $200,000 as the appropriation amount.

 

     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 H.B. No. 2453, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2453, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair