STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1252

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 179

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 179, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to address future costs for electricity, repair, and maintenance of air conditioning and other equipment and fixtures donated to public schools.

     Specifically, this measure repeals provisions that:

     (1)  Allow the Department of Education to require the approximate cost of electricity and maintenance for air conditioners not installed by the Department of Accounting and General Services to be paid by a private entity;

     (2)  Make the costs of repair and maintenance of donated fixtures in existing and new school facilities be the responsibility of the Department of Accounting and General Services; and

     (3)  Under specified circumstances, make the cost of repair and maintenance of donated equipment the responsibility of the Department of Education.

     Your Committee received one written comment on this measure.   The written comment may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that with the enactment of Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, responsibility for the construction, repair, and maintenance of public school facilities, including all equipment and fixtures was transferred from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Department of Education effective July 1, 2005.  This measure is in accordance with the transfer of those responsibilities.

     Your Committee amended this measure by making a nonsubstantive change for the purposes of clarity.

     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 H.B. No. 179, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 179, S.D. 2.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair