STAND. COM. REP. NO.  501

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 243

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 243 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION FUNDING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to strengthen public education in Hawaii by requiring the Department of Education to contract with a consulting firm that specializes in school financing to perform a study on the adequacy of funding for education in Hawaii.

 

     The Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii supported this measure.  The Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the requirement that the study include a review of school financing studies performed in other states, including "Using the Evidence-Based Method to Identify Adequate Spending Levels for Vermont Schools" (2016) by Picus Odden & Associates and "Washington Adequacy Funding Study" (2007) by the Educational Policy Improvement Center;

 

     (2)  Extending the deadline by which the Department of Education must report the findings and recommendations of the study, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature to no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022;

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 243, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 243, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair