STAND. COM. REP. NO. 326

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 1596

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1596 entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish a Maui Campus Housing Pilot Program, to be administered by the School Facilities Authority which shall make on-campus housing available to employees at Lahainaluna and Kulanihakoi High Schools on the Island of Maui;

 

     (2)  Require the School Facilities Authority and Department of Education to submit joint reports to the Legislature; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds to establish and administer the pilot program.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, School Facilities Authority, Hawaii State Teachers Association, one member of the Maui County Council, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

 

     Your Committees find that Hawaii continues to suffer from a shortage of licensed teachers, specialized staff, and administrators.  Providing incentives such as affordable options for teacher housing is one mechanism to retain highly qualified school teachers and educators.  Additionally, many school campuses, particularly those in rural areas and on the neighbor islands, offer the State an opportunity to provide on-campus housing for school employees.  By utilizing existing state property and infrastructure, the State can expedite construction while also reducing costs.  To address the State's chronic teacher shortage, this measure establishes a pilot program at Lahainaluna and Kulanihakoi High Schools for on-campus teacher housing.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1596 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Housing,

 

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair