STAND. COM. REP. NO. 895

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 941

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. 941, S.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 increase teacher housing.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private development agencies to develop teacher housing; and

(2) Appropriates an unspecified sum for the construction of teacher and educator housing at Mililani High School, Waipahu High School, and Nanakuli High School.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning and Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the School Facilities Authority and Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that housing continues to be one of the largest expenses for teachers and other residents of Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that providing affordable, on-campus housing for teachers will help to address one financial burden of teachers, which will help to recruit and retain teachers, thereby reducing the current teacher shortage.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated from an unspecified amount to $185,000,000, to be allocated as follows:

(A) $65,000,000 to Mililani High School;

(B) $60,000,000 to Waipahu High School; and

(C) $60,000,000 to Nanakuli High School;

(2) Expanding the appropriation to include the construction of classrooms;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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. 941, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 941, 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