Bill Text: HI SB836 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: State Public Charter Schools Commission; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Education; Executive Office on Early Learning; Facilities
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [SB836 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB836-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
836 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC 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. 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. Until then, Hawaii start-up charter schools paid the costs of their facilities from operational funds, which made it difficult for schools to maintain strong financial footing.
During the regular session of 2014, several bills providing some type of facilities funding reached the committee on conference, indicating recognition of the need to support charter schools facilities to help ensure the financial, academic, and organizational health of public charter schools. However, the bills failed to pass the legislature. A recent board of education report on charter schools also recognized that the long-term financial sustainability of charter schools remains a concern.
The purpose of this Act is to provide a framework for support of public charter schools facilities through adequate prioritization, oversight, and accountability.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302D- Use of vacant department facilities. (a) When any department considers whether to close any particular facility, it shall give reasonable consideration to making all or portions of the facility available to public charter schools and early learning programs; provided that the facilities may be used for any other purpose that the department of accounting and general services, in consultation with the department of education, deems appropriate.
(b) Each department shall identify and notify the department of accounting and general services, department of education, commission, and executive office on early learning of suitable unused facilities that may be appropriate for:
(1) Public charter schools;
(2) Early learning programs, including but not limited to the pre-plus program; and
(3) Any other purpose that the department of accounting and general services, in consultation with the department of education, deems appropriate.
Each department shall inventory such suitable facilities, and priority shall be given to facilities on sites with sufficient space for three or more classrooms.
(c) Upon receipt of a notice pursuant to subsection (b), the commission and the executive office on early learning shall solicit applications from public charter schools and pre-plus programs, respectively, that are interested in using and occupying all or portions of the facilities and submit a prioritized list of charter schools and pre-plus programs to the department of accounting and general services. The department of accounting and general services, in consultation with the department of education, shall make the final determination of which charter school or schools, and pre-plus program or programs, if any, shall be authorized to use and occupy the facilities."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
State Public Charter Schools Commission; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Education; Executive Office on Early Learning; Facilities
Description:
Requires state departments, upon the closure of facilities, to consider the facility's suitability for use by public charter schools or early learning pre-plus programs, and to notify the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, and Executive Office on Early Learning of the availability and suitability of the facility. (SB836 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
