STAND. COM. REP. NO. 414-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1865

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1865 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure compliance with chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes regulations for public charter schools, by:

(1) Repealing the exemption for charter schools from requirements on the administration and use of the federal funds allocated to the State for public education purposes;

(2) Clarifying that the disbursement of the funds shall not be conditioned on the agreement of a public charter school to amend an existing charter contract; and

(3) Amending the manner in which funds are disbursed to public charter schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Education.

Your Committee finds that the distribution of per-pupil funds to charter schools by the State Public Charter School Commission may be inconsistent with the original intent of the Legislature and not in compliance with the letter and spirit of chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes. This measure seeks to ensure compliance with chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and provide equitable funding for all students in public charter schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the State Public Charter School Commission, rather than the Department of Budget and Finance, to disburse funding directly to charter schools;

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

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1865, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1865, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair