SB2956 CD1

Report Title:

Fix Hawaii's Schools Act

Description:

Appropriates funds for DOE facility repair and maintenance. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for DOE capital improvement projects. (SB2956 CD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2956
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Fix Our Schools Act of 2006."

SECTION 2. The legislature finds that Hawaii's future depends on our youth, and the investments we make in our young people today will determine the course of our state in the years to come. One of the greatest investments we can make is to provide our youth with the best possible opportunities in education.

It has been proven that a proper scholastic environment–-one that is safe, secure, well-maintained, and clean--is a key contributor to a child's capacity to learn.

However, the legislature finds that there is a continuing backlog of repair and maintenance projects for Hawaii's public schools. In 2001, the Hawaii Opinion Poll on Public Education found that rundown, poorly kept, or inadequate facilities ranked third in the ten biggest problems facing our schools. Student leaders at the 2005 Hawaii Secondary Student Conference passed a resolution supporting the expenditure of funds to relieve the backlog.

Hence, the purpose of this Act is to provide resources for the repair, maintenance, and renovation of Hawaii's public schools.

SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2006-2007 to be exceeded by $111,841,598 or 2.1 per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriations made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $160,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the renovation of classrooms statewide in the department of education.

The appropriation made by this section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2008, shall lapse as of that date.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 5. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $40,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2006-2007 for repair and maintenance of department of education school facilities.

The appropriation made by this section shall be deposited in the state educational facilities special fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the state educational facilities special fund the sum of $40,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the repair and maintenance of department of education school facilities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $35,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for repair and maintenance of department of education school facilities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.