STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2176

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2635

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2635 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education for operational expenses, including the hiring of staff.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and CARES.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education operates two hundred forty-eight public schools statewide. As the only statewide school district in the United States, the Department of Education has an ambitious mandate that requires efficient, streamlined operations. Therefore, additional resources such as funding for adequate staffing levels is essential for operations to continue. This measure provides additional funding to the Department of Education to ensure continuity of operations and education of Hawaii's keiki.

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 S.B. No. 2635 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair