STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1376

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 960

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 960, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Transfer $200,000,000 of general funds previously appropriated to the School Facilities Authority of the Department of Education to the School Facilities Special Fund; and

(2) Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds out of the School Facilities Special Fund for the School Facilities Authority to expand access to eligible children for pre-kindergarten.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, School Facilities Authority, Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hui for Excellence in Education, and Kamehameha Schools. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that pre-kindergarten programs offer Hawaii's youngest keiki the opportunity to begin their educational journeys while also undergoing critical stages of development. However, there is a shortage of available classroom space to support current demand for pre-kindergarten programs. This measure provides the School Facilities Authority with flexibility to ensure pre-kindergarten facilities are available across the State to support the education, welfare, and economic future of Hawaii's working families.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the appropriation into and out of the School Facilities Special Fund shall be for fiscal year 2023-2024, rather than fiscal year 2022-2023.

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. 960, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 960, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair