STAND. COM. REP. NO. 61-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2694

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2694 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the State Public Charter School Commission to provide funds to cover the costs of the claim and settlement amount pursuant to Miller-Potter v. State of Hawaii, et al., Civil No. 16-1-0385K.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, Kualapuu Public Conversion Charter School, Hookakoo Corporation, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that section 4 of Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, appropriated from the general funds from fiscal year 2018-2019 for EDN 600 to pay for claims against the State or Hawaii state public charter school. However, this resulted in the charter school being required to use funds that were intended for the operation of the charter school and education of its students. This measure will appropriate funds to the State Public Charter School Commission so as not to negatively impact the students and families of the charter school.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified amount; and

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

Should the Committee on Finance decide to hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $75,000 to pay the claim and settlement amount pursuant to Miller-Potter v. State of Hawaii, et al., Civil No. 16-1-0385K.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2694, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2694, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair