Bill Text: HI SB2482 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Education; Public Schools Science and Technology Trust Fund

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-15 - (S) Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2482 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2482-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2199

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2482

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2482 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish the public schools science and technology trust fund to facilitate initiatives that promote the learning and teaching of science and technology in public schools; and

 

     (2)  Require the Department of Taxation to allow a taxpayer to designate a specified amount of the taxpayer's income tax refund to be paid to the Hawaii public schools science and technology trust fund.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, American Statistical Association – Hawaii Chapter, and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Taxation.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees find that while this measure provides a creative way to allow individuals to support the learning and teaching of science and technology in the State, it also adds the Hawaii public schools science and technology trust fund to the growing number of programs for which taxpayers may designate a portion of their income tax refund.

 

     As this measure progresses, your Committees urge the Department of Taxation to provide a cost estimate for the implementation of the income tax refund designation proposed by this measure.

 

     Your Committees also note that further discussion is necessary to determine the appropriate entity to oversee the trust fund, as well as which entities will be allowed to utilize trust fund monies.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to ensure further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2482, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2482, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Economic Development and Technology,

 

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair		____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair