STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2214-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 197

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of the Auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the Department of Education's capital improvement program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education manages the State's largest public infrastructure portfolio and has received substantial appropriations for capital improvement projects intended to maintain and modernize public school facilities. Your Committee further finds that concerns regarding the size of the capital improvement project backlog and the pace of project implementation highlight the value of a comprehensive and transparent review of the program. Your Committee believes that a performance audit conducted by the Office of the Auditor would assist policymakers and the public in evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and fiscal accountability of the Department's capital improvement program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the audit is requested to include:

(1) A comprehensive audit of any annual funds for any capital improvement projects that have lapsed since 2021;

(2) An assessment of how capital improvement projects are initiated and managed; and

(3) An assessment of any prior state or Department of Education-initiated or contracted studies, reports, or assessments related to school facilities, capital improvement planning, or repair and maintenance backlogs, including the extent to which the Department of Education has implemented or failed to implement the findings and recommendations of such studies, and the reasons for any lack of implementation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair