STAND. COM. REP. NO. 771

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 863

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 863, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote healthy working and learning environments for teachers and students.

 

     More specifically, this measure requires the Department of Education to:

 

     (1)  Conduct an electrical assessment on all public and conversion charter schools in the State to determine whether the school's electrical capacity will allow for the installation of air conditioning units and other air purifying devices; and

 

     (2)  Report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2021.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that the proper use of air purifying devices can help to reduce the amount of airborne contaminants, including the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, that are present in indoor settings.  Your Committee also finds that research by the United States Department of Education has shown that the use of cooling systems leads to students having better attitudes toward learning, fewer disciplinary problems, and sustained achievement.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 863, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 863, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair