STAND. COM. REP. NO. 976

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1518

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1518, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the expediency and efficiency of small purchase procurements.

Specifically, this measure provides certain procurement exemptions for the Department of Education for the procurement of certain goods, services, and construction.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that the exemptions granted to the Department of Education under this measure will provide the Department flexibility to procure educational materials in a more timely and less cumbersome manner. Your Committee further finds that this measure will allow the Department of Education to focus on innovating and engaging students through the use of technology as the education landscape rapidly evolves.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) For clarity, integrating uncodified provisions in section 5 of the measure into the new Hawaii Revised Statutes sections created by sections 2 and 3 of the measure;

(2) Clarifying that, upon the measure's repeal on June 30, 2026, section 103D-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of the measure;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

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 S.B. No. 1518, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1518, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair