Bill Text: HI HB246 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Charter Schools.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB246 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB246-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
246 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that facilities funding has been a long-standing issue for charter schools nationally and locally. In Hawaii, start-up charter schools have paid the costs of their facilities from operational funds. However, Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, authorized the state public charter school commission to request facilities funding as part of its annual budget request to the director of finance beginning with the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, authorized a framework for providing facilities funding and support for public charter school facilities with adequate prioritization, oversight, and accountability by the charter school facilities funding working group.
The legislature further finds that public charter schools receive inadequate funding to support student learning. While the state public charter school commission may request facilities funding in addition to its annual budget request, the amounts received in recent fiscal years have not kept pace with the cost of providing and maintaining high-quality facilities. Public charter schools that lack adequate building facilities are sometimes forced to hold classes outdoors, on covered lanais, or in unstable temporary structures.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Provide funding for rental or lease of facilities under legislative appropriations and bond authorizations to the state public charter school commission for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school improvements; and
(2) Provide funding to the state public charter school commission for infrastructure costs, the rental or lease of charter school facilities, and the repair and maintenance of network infrastructure for charter schools.
SECTION 2. Section 302D-29.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Beginning with the [2016-2017] 2019-2020
fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, the legislature shall consider
making an appropriation and bond authorization to the commission for the
design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter
school improvements to address issues of health, safety, and legal compliance;
expand or improve instructional space; provide for rental or lease of
facilities; provide for food services; or provide restroom facilities. The appropriation and bond authorization for
charter schools shall be separate from, and in addition to, any appropriation
made to charter schools pursuant to [this section and] section
302D-28. These amounts shall be
prioritized for allocation by the charter school facilities funding working
group."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $11,160,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the state public charter school commission to allocate to charter schools for infrastructure costs, lease or rent assistance based in part on the need and financial performance of the charter schools, and repair and maintenance of network infrastructure, as determined by the state public charter school commission.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the state public charter school commission for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Charter Schools; Facilities Funding; Infrastructure; Appropriation
Description:
Provides
funding for rental or lease of facilities under legislative appropriations and
bond authorizations to the State Public Charter School Commission for the
design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter
school improvements. Appropriates
general funds for infrastructure costs, rental or lease assistance, and the
repair and maintenance of network infrastructure for charter schools. (HB246 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
