EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

HONOLULU

June 20, 2003

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIONS TO SENATE BILL NO. 209

Honorable Members

Twenty-Second Legislature

State of Hawaii

Pursuant to Section 16 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, I am returning herewith, without my approval, Senate Bill No. 209, entitled "A Bill for an Act Relating to Public Employment."

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate $60,000 for fiscal year 2003-2004 to the Department of Education to convert ten-month certificated positions to twelve-month certificated positions to provide services for multi-track year-round schools within the State of Hawaii.

While I believe that services are needed for multi-track schools, I also believe that the Department of Education already has existing capacity within its budget to provide the additional services that are required by the four schools in question. It would not be fiscally prudent to fund these services with a new appropriation from the general fund at a time when the State is facing a projected budget deficit of more than $230 million.

For the foregoing reasons, I am returning Senate Bill No. 209 without my approval.

Respectfully,

LINDA LINGLE

Governor of Hawaii