STAND. COM. REP. NO.  415-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1935

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1935 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AIR CONDITIONING IN SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the installation of air conditioning and filtration units in classrooms in West Hawaii island that have the necessary electrical infrastructure to support it.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus.

 

     Your Committee finds that vog, or volcanic smog, is a form of air pollution that occurs when volcanic emissions react with moisture, oxygen, and sunlight.   When volcanic eruptions occur on Hawaii island, prevailing wind patterns typically push vog emissions westward, where they accumulate over north and south Kona and affect the air quality to the point where it poses significant health risks.

 

     Your Committee further finds that public health recommendations to reduce exposure to vog include staying indoors with windows closed and using an air filter.  However, in schools without air conditioning, it can be very difficult to follow the recommendations and keep a healthy learning environment at the same time.  This measure will provide funding for air conditioners in West Hawaii island classrooms to create safer, more comfortable, and more effective learning environments for the students of West Hawaii island.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the general obligation bond and appropriation amount to an unspecified amount;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance decide to deliberate on this measure, your Committee on Education respectfully requests that it authorize the Director of Finance to issue $11,160,000 in general obligation bonds and appropriate the same amount for fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Department of Education for the installation of air conditioning and filtration units in public school classrooms in West Hawaii island, as follows:

 

     (1)  $360,000 for two classrooms and the cafeteria at Kahakai Elementary School;

 

     (2)  $3,000,000 for fifty classrooms at Kealakehe Elementary School;

 

     (3)  $2,400,000 for forty classrooms at Kealakehe Intermediate School; and

 

     (4)  $5,400,000 for ninety classrooms Kealakehe High School.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1935, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1935, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair