STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1250-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3305

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3305, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt public charter schools that offer exclusively prekindergarten programs from certain statutory provisions affecting charter schools relating to funding and finance, the use of the weighted student formula, athletics, enrollment, computer science courses and content, and enrollment in industry-credential programs that are applicable to other public charter schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning; State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and Parents and Children Together.

Your Committee finds that exempting prekindergarten-only public charter schools from unnecessary statutory provisions will prevent prekindergarten-only public charter schools from being subjected to requirements that are inapplicable to them by virtue of being prekindergarten only and not serving other grade levels. This measure further ensures efficient operations at Hawaii's prekindergarten-only public charter schools and creates more access to much-needed, community-based prekindergarten programs across the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3305, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3305, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair