STAND. COM. REP. NO. 681

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 814

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 814, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the process for applicants to apply to open and operate a charter school; and

(2) Provide for penalties for authorizers who fail to timely comply with board decisions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kulia Academy and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission and Maui Hui Malama.

Your Committee finds that charter school processes for new school applicants, contract renewals, and contract negotiation are inconsistent, difficult to navigate, and lack transparency. This measure will allow applicants to cure any deficiencies with their application rather than be automatically denied for nonsubstantive reasons and streamlines the charter school application process so that approval will be easier to obtain.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 814, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair