STAND. COM. REP. NO.  154

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1256

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1256 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish a Maui Campus Housing Pilot Program under the School Facilities Authority to make housing available to employees at Lahainaluna and Kulanihakoi High Schools;

 

     (2)  Require the School Facilities Authority and Department of Education to submit a joint report to the Legislature; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the School Facilities Authority, one member of the Maui County Council, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State continues to suffer from a shortage of licensed teachers, with over one thousand vacancies each year.  Your Committee believes that affordable options for teacher housing is one key strategy to recruit and retain experienced teachers, particularly when Hawaii's teacher salaries continue to trail behind the rest of the nation.  This measure will lessen the financial burden on teachers by expanding the availability of affordable housing, thereby attracting a wider pool of candidates to teach our keiki.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the School Facilities Authority will administer the Maui Campus Housing Pilot Program during the planning, design, and construction of the on-campus housing;

 

     (2)  Providing that after construction of the on-campus housing is complete, an unspecified agency shall administer the program;

 

     (3)  Specifying that the School Facilities Authority is not required to participate in submitting the report to the Legislature along with the Department of Education after the completion of the construction of the on-campus housing;

 

     (4)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     Your Committee notes that although the appropriation in this measure is currently an unspecified amount, the initial cost for planning and design for the Maui Campus Housing Pilot Program is approximately $200,000.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1256, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1256, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair