THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	849
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to charter schools.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302D-A  General obligation bonds; facilities.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the commission shall be authorized to request the issuance of general obligation bonds from the director of finance and allocate the proceeds of any general obligation bonds to assist public charter schools with the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of charter school facilities.

     (b)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the proceeds of any general obligation bonds issued under this section may be allocated to various public charter schools irrespective of whether a specific project or purpose has been provided for in a legislative act authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds; provided that the commission shall allocate the proceeds of any general obligation bonds pursuant to criteria created by, and based upon the prioritization schedule of, the charter school facilities funding working group pursuant to section 302D-B(b).

     (c)  Unless otherwise required by law, any public charter school facilities constructed, in whole or in part, through the proceeds of general obligation bonds shall be owned by the State.

     (d)  Moneys appropriated for capital improvement projects pursuant to any legislative act authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school facilities shall be considered expended upon distribution to the commission.

     §302D-B  Charter school facilities funding working group.  (a)  There is established a charter school facilities funding working group within the commission, which shall consist of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  The chairperson of the commission;

     (2)  The executive director of the commission;

     (3)  The director of finance;

     (4)  The chair of the senate committee on ways and means; and

     (5)  The chair of the house of representatives committee on finance.

     (b)  The charter school facilities funding working group shall determine criteria for and prioritize the allocation of the proceeds of general obligation bonds for public charter school facilities, based in part on the performance and needs of the public charter schools.

     §302D-C  General obligation bonds annual report.  The commission shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.  The report shall include:

     (1)  A summary of the criteria used by the commission in allocating the proceeds of the general obligation bonds;

     (2)  A detailed breakdown of the allocation of the proceeds of the general obligation bonds to the public charter schools; and

     (3)  A detailed list of projects funded through the proceeds of the general obligation bonds."

     SECTION 2.  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 2015-2016 for the purpose of assisting state public charter schools with the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of school facilities pursuant to this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the state public charter school commission for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  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, 2017, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 4.  In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015; provided that section 1 shall be repealed on June 30, 2025.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

State Public Charter School Commission; Facilities Funding; General Obligation Bonds; Appropriation

 

Description:

Temporarily authorizes the state public charter school commission to request the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance public charter school facilities.  Creates a working group to determine the allocation of bond proceeds.  Specifies that bond-funded facilities are owned by the State.  Requires an annual report to the legislature.  Authorizes the issuance of bonds to fund public charter school facilities.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.