THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	856
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 3

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A‑    Financial and management audits.  The auditor shall conduct an operational audit of the academic plans and the financial plans of the department, assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of the process from budget and planning, and implementation to student outcomes annually.  The auditor shall submit a report of the auditor's findings, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session following the audit."

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of education shall contract with a third-party consultant that specializes in school finance to perform a study of the adequacy of education funding in Hawaii.  The third-party consultant shall have previous experience conducting studies of education systems in multiple states.

     (b)  The study shall:

     (1)  Employ the evidence-based method to evaluate the adequacy of school funding, but may include the professional judgement method in its analysis;

     (2)  Identify variables most closely associated with a high-quality education and estimate the amount of additional funding needed to provide all public school students in Hawaii with an equal educational opportunity;

     (3)  Compare Hawaii teacher salaries with teacher salaries in school districts of similar size and cost of living to determine compensation characteristics that impact the department of education's ability to recruit and retain effective teachers; and

     (4)  Assess the equity of funding between schools throughout the Hawaii public school system.

     (c)  The department of education shall submit to the legislature a copy of the study, along with a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

     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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the office of the auditor to conduct the operational audit.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of the auditor for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  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 2019-2020 for the department of education to contract with a third-party consultant that specializes in school finance to perform a study of the adequacy of education funding in Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2052.

 

 

Report Title:

Education; Audit; Adequacy Study; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Auditor to perform an operational audit of the academic and financial plans of the Department of Education.  Requires the Department of Education to contract with a third-party consultant that specializes in school finance to study the adequacy of education funding in Hawaii.  Appropriates funds.  (SB856 HD3)

 

 

 

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