STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3718

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2344

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2344, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a process for consolidating, realigning, or closing certain underutilized public schools.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes within the Department of Accounting and General Services for administrative purposes a temporary Public School Realignment and Closure Commission to make recommendations for the consolidation, realignment, or closure of specific public schools;

(2) Establishes a process by which the Governor and Legislature may review the Commission's recommendations and consider the recommendations for approval;

(3) Provides that, if the Commission's recommendations are approved by the Legislature, the Board and Department of Education shall take all necessary actions to implement the recommendations; and

(4) Appropriates moneys for the operational costs of the Commission.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the United Public Workers and Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that a recent and continuing decline in student enrollment has left many public school facilities underused. Your Committee recognizes that, in light of this decline, a thorough and data-driven review by an independent Commission, as proposed by this measure, is necessary for fiscal prudence and to optimize the State's public school system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to clarify that, for purposes of the measure, "public school" and "public school facilities" do not include charter schools governed by chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or the charter schools' facilities;

(2) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Board and Department of Education to take necessary actions to implement the Commission's approved recommendations; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of 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 H.B. No. 2344, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2344, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair