Bill Text: HI HB2689 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Facilities; Public Schools; Air Conditioning; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 27-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-01 - Referred to EDN, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 5 [HB2689 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2689-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2689 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Studies show that the difference between air conditioned and non-air conditioned environments can cause as much as a seventeen per cent gap on achievement tests. In addition, high temperatures put the health and safety of students and teachers at risk for conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Hawaii's public school classrooms are, on average, over sixty-five years old, with electrical infrastructure that often cannot support traditional air conditioning technology. Recent departmental estimates have put the cost of air conditioning at $110,000 per classroom.
To help address this problem, the legislature finds that the department should use available energy-efficient technology, including off-grid and photovoltaic technology, to reduce the electrical burden and cost of cooling classrooms. Employing a combination of on-grid, off-grid, and photovoltaic technology could reduce the per-classroom cost of air conditioning to $20,000 or a total of $140,000,000 for the seven thousand classrooms currently in need of air conditioning.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide energy-efficient air conditioning to all public school classrooms within five years.
SECTION 2. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the department of education shall:
(1) Develop a plan to provide air conditioning for public school facilities using a mix of technologies, including off-grid technology, photovoltaic technology, and split air conditioning units; and
(2) Provide air conditioning to multiple public schools using off-grid technology and photovoltaic technology.
Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the department shall establish a master plan for the installation of air conditioning at all public school classrooms that meet or exceed a temperature of ninety degrees Fahrenheit; provided that top priority is given to schools in the greatest need of air conditioning. Based on this plan, air conditioning shall be installed in:
(1) Priority schools by the end of the 2018-2019 school year;
(2) Fifty per cent of schools by the end of the 2019-2020 school year; and
(3) All schools by the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the initiation and expansion of projects that demonstrate efficient methods to provide air conditioning to public school facilities, including, but not limited to off-grid and photovoltaic technology.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purpose of funding public school air conditioning projects.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2018, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Facilities; Public Schools; Air Conditioning; Appropriation
Description:
Provides energy-efficient air conditioning to all public school classrooms within five years. Appropriates funds and authorizes general obligation bonds for public school air conditioning.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
