001[Music] Good afternoon. Welcome to the Committee on Education. Today's Wednesday, March 22nd, 300 PM in hearing room 229. This meeting, including the audio and video of remote participants, is being streamed live on YouTube. You'll find links to viewing options for all Senate meetings on the live and on demand video page of the legislaturator's website. This Zoom meeting and YouTube live stream event will include the 3:00 p.m. agenda for the Committee on Education. In the unlikely event that we must abruptly end this hearing due to major technical difficulties, the committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in room 229. So those are not going anywhere. I'd like to take this time to remind our testifiers that due to time restrictions on our hearings, we will be limiting
002testimony to one minute per testifier per bill. For people participating remotely, please remain muted and video disabled until shortly before it is your turn to testify. When I call your name, unmute yourself and your time will begin. After your minute is completed, staff will mute you so that we can move this hearing along in an orderly and efficient manner. Members, we have several agendas today and after this one, I think we move to another conference room. So, please do not run away to clean up the bills. Okay. Our 3:00 agenda, it starts with House Bill 54 HD1 relating to education establishes a Nationally certified school psychologist incentive program appropriates funds for the incentive program. Okay, my Okay. To testify, Superintendent Hashi. Aloha, Chair Kadani, Vice Chair Kim, and members of the committee. I'm Dr. Yvon
003Humble testifying on behalf of the Department of Education. The department stands on its written testimony offering comments on this measure. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Yeah, it's support or just comments. We support that we're offering comments. Love it. Yeah. Thank you. So, I'm sorry. Support or comments? Uh, we're supporting the different Oh, okay. Thank you. Thank you. Next to testify, Osatouille Jr., President HSTA. Hello, chair, members of the committee, Leverne Moore. Speaking on behalf of OSAU, present the Hawaii State Teachers Association. We support House Bill 54. We know that as special ed teachers, they are critical to supporting us in working with the emotional and behavioral problems of our students. Please support this bill. Thank you. Thank you. Leurn Brena Hashimoto, chief negotiator for office of collective bargaining, offering comments. Lesie Banak, legislative
004co-chair, Hawaii Association of School Psychologists. Um, hi, my name is Lesley Bonik. I'm with the Hawaii Association of School Psychologists. Uh, thank you senators for allowing us to speak today on this uh, measure. Um, I think I wrote this bill back in like 2016, so this is how long we've been working on that. We've attempted to collectively bargain with the Department of Education along with HGA support and have not been successful at that. So, it's a little interesting the DOE's comments. Um, school psychologists are significantly underfunded in Hawaii. In addition to that, our ratios are about 1 to 3,000 when the nationally recommended ratio is 1 to 500. Um, in addition, there's no credential for school psychologists. So, this is one way to successfully recruit and retain highly qualified individuals. um it's not necessarily going
005to make up for the wage gaps that exist uh in pay between uh the mainland and Hawaii. However, it is a step in the right direction. So, if you appreciate uh the Senate support in this measure, thank you very much. And I'm available for questions. Thank you, Leslie. Next, we have Alec Morantic. Aloha, chair and members of the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to testify. My name is uh Alec. I'm a school psychologist for the KKK complex area on Hawaii Island. Um I support this bill and I stand on my written testimony. Um this is an important first step in addressing um not only the recruitment and retention issues um that are feeding to the critical shortages of school psychologists in the state. We only have about 60 to 61 um currently working in
006the state. Um it also is an important first step in addressing um the pay inequities um compared to uh western region um states that have comparable costs of living to us. Um thank you for this opportunity to testify. Thank you, Alec. That concludes uh the testimony. We do have about 20 written um testimonies in support. Members questions. No, it says she was going to be here, but is anybody here from budget and finance? Nobody. because the testimony from office of collective bargaining deferred to budget finance on how significant the cost will be. So I'm just going to find out what the number was also set. Yes. Correct. Correct. Those are some of the issues that we have discussed before. Thank you. If there are no other questions, we are moving on to item number two.
007House Bill 1412 relating to libraries prohibits any contract or license agreement between a publisher and library in the state from precluding, limiting, or otherwise restricting the library from performing customary operational and lending functions. Restricting the library from disclosing any terms of its license agreements to other libraries. and requiring, coercing, or enabling a library to violate rules regarding confidentiality of a patron's library records. Deems contracts that contain prohibited provisions and unfair or deceptive act and practice and void and and uninforcable to testify. We did have a lot of testimony on this. So, uh, Department of Education, please. Good afternoon, Chidani, Vice Chair McCain, and members of the committee. On behalf of the Department of Education, I'm Ray Fujino. We stand on our written testimony and support. Thank you, Ray. Next to testify, Clem Guthro, University Librarian.
008Good afternoon, uh, Vice, uh, Chair Kadani and Vice Chair Kim and members of the committee. Uh, I'm Guth, the university librarian at uh, Fenoa. Uh, we offer, uh, comments and, uh, recommendations for changes. We basically stand on our testimony and available for any questions that you might have. Thank you. Next to testify, David Louie, Association of of American Publishers. Good afternoon, Chair Kadani, Vice Chair Kim, members. Thank you for the opportunity. Um uh we oppose uh this bill. I in all my years looking at bills, I've never seen one quite as flawed as this one. Uh although it it has an intent. Um it is unconstitutional. Uh it violates the federal copyright law. Uh one federal court has already struck down substantially similar litigation in Maryland. They just did it in February 2022. the governor
009of uh New York um Governor Hokll vetoed a measure that was passed in New York uh that was similar a similar measure was held in committee in Virginia. But the important thing is is is that these are rights of people who have copyrights. They create books that create movies. They create all kinds of things. And now this bill tries to say that you don't get to control your copyright. The library gets to control your copyright. You could the library could buy one copy and disseminate it a million times under this bill. Uh the the the uh uh that's what libraries are for. Yeah. Well, they could do it a million times and not pay for it. And and so then they would take away they also could have an unlimited duration and they can copy
010any text and any artwork from the from the whole book or the whole work and publish it completely. Um, so this just eviscerates copyright. It's really flawed. You can't do anything about it. People have said, "Well, we should amend it this way, this, that way." It's it's a terrible bill. Uh, it uh says that we're going to make a violation of of uh a reasonable term of a contract become an unfair and deceptive trade practice, exposing uh creators uh to lawsuits for trouble damages, impunitive damages. um and giving a private right of action to borrowers as well as libraries. So, uh I urge you uh this is just going to lead to litigation. Uh this is a very flawed bill that attacks federal copyright law and the United States Constitution. Um so we would urge
011that uh you hold this bill. Uh I'm happy to take any questions. Thank you. Thank you, David Stacy Aldridge. Aloha. Thank you, Chair Kadani, Vice Chair Kim, and members of the committee. Um, the Hawaii State Public Library system stands by its written testimony in support of this um, bill, and I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. Um, and the point of this bill for us is reasonable terms of access to digital books for our public. And I think it relates more to contractual issues versus copyright. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, Stacey, why don't you stay? Sure. I was trying to stay within the minute. I apologize. And members, I will say that most of the opposition, the written testimonies that came in emails are not from not from Hawaii. Um so um
012for us with ebooks I can only tell you from a librarian who procures books um that's what we do. Um is that this bill is about contractual issues as we think about other contracts. The state has the right to determine how we take in contracts and how we make purchases. Um there's a continual push that this is copyright related but it's not copyright. They still own their copyright and in no means would we ever try to make multiple copies and sell them and send them out to multiple people. The libraries are palaces for authors. We support authors. We want them to receive appropriate um remediation for their or um appropriate funds for the work that they do. This in no way is determined to it's not meant to do that. What we're looking at is
013for example there are um let me give you a book the first detective ladies first ladies detective agency probably familiar with Alexander Mcllmithnith in 2010 publishers sold that book for $14.95 for for perpetual access to libraries in 2013 they changed the the conditions to $4485 for perpetual action or access to that book in 2018. 18 they charge4 $44.84 uh two years access. So the price continues to be higher but the access continues to be lower. Today this 20-year-old book if we want to purchase in 2023 we have to pay 27.50 if we want 12 months of access or $55 for two years of access. Um the model is not getting better for libraries and they're moving to pay per use and there is no way that we can sustain a pay-per-use model for having access
014to electronic resources which are important to us in Hawaii because it's an extension of collection to all of our islands. It's very difficult to make sure that everybody has access. So we're not asking to take away people's copyright or to make sure that the authors don't get paid. That's a different conversation between the publishers and the authors about how much they actually do get um in uh royalties, which I don't think is fair. I've seen 25% for ebooks. It's more about how do we make sure that the cost of these books are available and and and accessible to us because the costs are so high. um just for Obama's book, his most recent book, we have spent $3,000 just in um electronic format to make sure that that's accessible via audio book and also ebook.
015So, we just want the books to be available and accessible and the idea that we're doing harm, we will buy more books, not less books, if they're affordable. Um, and so we just want to be a fair play for and reasonable cost for libraries instead of this ongoing usage cost that keeps getting higher and higher and a new models that will not be sustainable. We won't be able to offer ebooks in the future. Thank you for that. Is there anything in the measurement of making I don't know that there there is, but we would never do that. That just wouldn't be ethical. Yeah. The only amendment we would like to see is that existing contracts aren't affected by this this law. Um we'll have to make a transition. We have 93,000 titles and um over
016100,000 users right now with 44,000 holds using ebooks. And so we know there would have to be a transition um with the publishers to make sure that we could find um reasonable reasonable fees. Um so um that's in our testimony. the three areas that we'd like to see amended back into the Thank you. Yes. questions. Yeah. Um, so before we had electronic books, when you purchase books for the library system, you paid a fee per book. Is that correct? And then you own it. Yes. And then you own it. Correct. U, in this situation, you are paying for a user fee for a period of time. Is that correct? Okay. Um, could you make copies and before electronic, could you make copies of the books and loan those out rather than just um putting the
017book out? There is some fair use if there was a book that was destroyed that we could reproduce that book and make it available. But in general, we don't produce copies of books and then that's that's copyright violation. So, this is where I'm concerned because um a onetime fee, you know, we talked about I think it was yesterday or maybe the day before these days blend together about intellectual property and this is in effect what we're talking about which is the copyright law. And so I'm sensitive to that and I don't disagree your statement. I think you have a contractual issue that needs to get worked out. But I'm concerned about just saying well I pay for one fee and I have free use of it for the rest of them. I don't think that's
018fair to an author. So, I think there's got to be some middle ground going in there and to have access to a book that we don't own. I I don't disagree with that statement. So, I think I think there's more work needs to be done, but I think going all the way the on the other side, I don't think that's quite appropriate either. So, thank you, chair. Thank you. Thank you for the questions. Thank you, Stacy. Thank you. Um, is the Ag here? Can you come forward, please? We don't have testimony from you. I'm not sure if testimony was provided or we just did this. So, can you address the issues that uh Mr. Lily discussed that this will be litigated? Um, I apologize. I'm not I don't have Mr. Lou's testimony in front of
019me, so I don't think that I can speak on behalf of the department. what I can do is to go back and look at his testimony and provide a written response to you. Okay. Thank you. And uh we will make sure that you get a copy of the testimony. Okay. Moving on. Senate Bill 540 relating to House Bill 540 relating to education beginning with the year 2023 2024 requires Department of Education and public charter schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students. appropriates funds to testify. Superintendent, please. Good afternoon, Chair Kani, Vice Chair M Kim, members of the committee. Hello, Randy Tanaka, Department of Education. On behalf of uh the Department of Education, we stand by our testimony submitted. Any questions? So willing to ask answer can you please provide the testimony
020Randy so that the public can hear it? No. So the department uh supports the concept of universal meals for all our our our students. uh there is an uh economic issue that we have to address in terms of funding this. Um I will tell you that there is some degree of trending across the country to provide more meals for those that can't afford meals. Um the so the department's position is to continue to try to reach that goal and feed feeding the the kids that can't afford but the motion in front of us is really to feed all the all the children both breakfast and lunch. So that's we're we're supporting that position. The estimated cost for the department is giving is almost $64 million. That that is correct. And can you um also you
021talked about well the superintendent's uh testimony talks about um a negative balance of approximately $100,000 statewide as of December 2022. What is that from non-payment of lunches? Um, I'm not exactly sure what that that 100,000 because I I think that's it's close to the number that we're we're carrying right now for non-payment, but I I don't think that's I'm not sure if that's related to the the shortfall. Okay. So, could they clarify what what that means? Thank you, Randy. Thank you. Next to testify, Ivan La State Public Charter School Commission. Good afternoon, Chair Kedani, Vice Chair Mado Kim, and members of the committee. Ivon La on behalf of the Charter School Commission. Um, we offer our comments on this bill. We deeply appreciate the inclusion of our charter school students, but I think there's um
022some significant differences in the way that our schools are structured and they struggle um to with facilities funding for one, but um right now we only have about 20 of our 37 charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and there's been some significant delays in the payment of that. Um many of our schools have trouble even uh finding a vendor that could meet the requirements. So, while we do support that all of our public school students should have access to free breakfast and and lunch, um it's the it's the you know the operationalizing of that and we would ask that you work with the department to find a way to do that. But to require all of our schools to do that would put a pretty big significant financial burden on them. So,
023are you asking us to amend it to not require the state charter school commission to do this? Well, yeah. I I I think the commission also is not structured in the same way that the department is. Um each charter school is considered its own um food ser uh food agency and so they would have they have to apply to the national school lunch program individually which causes a lot of the problems in funding and the fiscal side of of you know operationalizing school lunches for many of our charter schools. So, I I would I would love to be able to see a statewide program that covers all of our public school students in the most efficient way possible. And I think um the department's been very kind to try to um think of ways to
024do that. And I think as Tanaka has been, you know, trying to pursue those options and I think we would like to continue working with the department to find that solution. Thank you, Sure. Um, let's finish our Okay. testifiers first. Thank you. Nate Hicks, food with access policy advocacy for Hawaii Public Health Institute. Well, chair, vice chair, members of the committee, Nate Hicks, Hawaii Public Health Institute, stand in strong support of this measure. Uh, food is an essential part of the school day. uh without food, students aren't able to learn at the best that they can and the education suffers as a result. Uh Minnesota actually just passed a similar bill on Friday and uh to much fanfare, a lot of press coverage, a lot of positive folks. Uh and a lot of studies have
025been showing that uh when New York City implemented this program, uh test scores improved for those students who previously weren't on free lunch by the equivalent of an additional 6 to 10 weeks of school. um our education system will be better as a result. It's not just about making sure kids can eat. Um we're going to have a huge return on investment as well. Appreciate the opportunity to testify in the hall. Thank you, Ne. Next to testify, HSTA. Aloha chairs and members of the committee. Lever Moore on behalf of Osuli, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. HSDA supports House Bill 540 and we stand on our written testimony and I want to make a point that our gap families what we're finding by the end of the month our children are going without lunch
026and what is happening is the teachers are providing snacks for them in order for them to make it during the rest of the day. So this is an important deal for our students. Thank you. Thank you Leverne. Next to testify, State Council on Developmental Disabilities Executive Administrator Dry Bartois. Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. My name is Nick Bryan. I'm an intern with the state council. Um, and we stand our written testimony in support. Thank you. Thank you, Nick. Next to testify, an Horuchi, Deputy Attorney General. Good afternoon, Chair Kadani, Vice Kim, members, and for Department of the Attorney General. As we set forth in our testimony, there are four instances in the bill where it mistakenly refers to lunch and provisions concerning school breakfast. Um because different regulations apply to school
027breakfast and lunches, we've suggested the um provisions to address these drafting errors and it's set forth in our testimony those four places where the word needs to be replaced. Thank you. I'll be available for questions. Thank you. Next to testify for Hawaii FOC, Daniela. Aloha, Chair Kadani, Vice Chair, members of the committee. Um thank you for hearing this bill. Um, we stand in strong support at Hawaii Apple Seed. Um, mainly because federal eligibility for free or reduced price meals requires that households earn below 130% of the federal poverty level. So that's about a little over $44,000 annually. Um, but we know that um it takes between about 70 and 80,000 uh to live in Hawaii as far as like the Alice population goes. So those uh that eligibility is actually leaving out a lot of
028a lot of students and we think that this will help to cover that gap as um our HSTAR was mentioning. Um the other thing I wanted to note um I think I we've been advocating for this to include charter schools. So I wanted to address what um the charter school commission said in their testimony. Um we would hope that um because this bill does um explicitly appropriate funds to the Hawaii Child Nutrition Program Office that oversees not just school food services branch which um is all the public schools but all the charter schools as well that there could be a solution there um for making sure that the reimbursements reach those schools in time. So thank you so much for hearing my testimony. Thank you. Next to testify for Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Jordan Smith.
029Aloha, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. My name is Jordan. I'm speaking in support of HB540 on behalf of the Hawaii Hunger Action Network, a statewide network of advocates dedicated to ensuring all people in Hawaii have enough food to live healthy, dignified, and productive lives. Um, as mentioned, Hawaii is one of more than 20 states across the nation currently considering universal free school meals legislation. And like the 50 pages of supportive testimony received today, we are all in agreement that we owe our students equal access to nutritious school meals. Uh the conversation really comes down to cost. So I implore the legislature to request more details from the Department of Education on how they arrived at their cost estimates. Two different local advocacy organizations and the National Food Research and Action Center have run
030cost estimates for Hawaii. And these estimates come uh nowhere close to the figures being proposed by the department. I continue to be shocked by the pages of testimony from children and teachers sharing their firsthand experience of watching their students and peers be denied meals and hope the legislature can support and pass this bill. Thank you. Thank you. Um that concludes the um testimony, but there are about 30 written testimonies with comments and mostly in support. The last testifier, Konyi Def Franco, are you still there? You're not present on Zoom. Well, thank you. I was wondering what the cost was that they had since they saved We'll look for that. Um, members questions. Chair had question for charter school. Thanks. Um, you support the intent but the application of it is the problem, right? So because
031each charter school is considered its own school food authority, they have to administer they have to, you know, if they have the facility, the kitchen, if they don't have the facility kitchen, they have to find a vendor that meets the national school lunch program requirements. And that oftentimes is a challenge for many of our schools, especially in our rural areas. Um so that's why we only have 20 out of our 30 charter schools currently participating in the national school lunch entry program. Um and even for those that are participating um you know because the the reimbursement uh there's delays in reimbursement the schools are end up carrying that cost. And with our charter schools that impacts their bottom line and they have to you know they have a financial um piece that they've got to
032make sure their school is meeting. So we are putting an extra burden on them as well. It so to say that it's not that anybody wants to not have this program. I would love for all of our students to be um participating but the you know to put that burden on our charter schools um without requisite funding and again facilities and sometimes just availability of school lunches um is problematic for many of our schools. And I think I we had uh Charter School Network testify that they they do also have trouble trying to procure um school lunches. So we would love to be able to work with the department to find ways to to maximize the opportunity to provide school lunches to all of our children. Okay. And you mentioned rural schools. I'm going to
033assume then we're talking more of our neighbor island schools than Kawahu. Yes. Okay. Okay. And then are we in violation of anything if we are not able to supply the free lunch to our church? I'm not aware that it violates u any particular state law. Um I think it's a voluntary program for the national school lunch program for for schools to participate in. Okay. just I know some of those real. So I think a lot of the the charter schools the parents bring their own lunch or the school might some of them will just try to find food for their children. All right. Thank you. Thank you chair. Further questions members not really a question but um Nate on the testimony that you provided you spoke about some of the data points you know like
034New York and stuff. I don't know if it's in one of these um uh sites that she listed at the bottom of your testimony for some of that statistics. Is it part of that? I didn't read all that. No, I do apologize. I've been doing more research as this Minnesota bill just came out and I stumbled upon this and it was not included in my testimony, but I can forward it out to you. Thank you. Yeah, sure. [Music] Do I I understand your testimony regarding the cost. So, where would the monies come despite what the cost might be, whether it's your numbers or the numbers that they're saying, uh, where would this monies come from? It it would have to be subsidized by the state. Okay. So the pie for the state is only so
035big, right? And I know we have um we may have a surplus this year, but it's not sustaining. So it's something that we're looking at like one-time things, but the forecast down the road. Uh so if that's the case, then where where would we cut to provide for for the program? And I think this is a realistic question because I know everybody comes in and speak on different bills that cost money, but when you look at the broad picture like we have to because certainly there's concerns about, you know, having the kids with all the school supplies that they need, having the transportation for our kids to get to the school. There's concerns in wanting pre preschool, early education, early college, air conditioning in the classrooms. um you know so there's a lot of need
036and so what do we prioritize so is it fair to ask the DOE to provide us what what they prioritize because we have CIP we have facilities falling down breaking down there you know roof leaking classrooms not enough classrooms um so how do we prioritize as to what is you know should food be at the top of the list maybe not so much transportation or not so much air conditioning. I don't know. I mean, these are the concerns because there's also need for nurses in the school, psychologists in the I mean the teachers that used to just only teach now have to be more than just teachers, right? And so many of them don't want to go into teaching because it's not what it used to be like. Um, so how do we prioritize this
037because money is not unlimited? And Senator, it it is an outstanding question because the means are not unlimited. We have to live within our means. Yet there is there is evidence that a well-fed child is much more productive. And the name of our game is to get them to a place where they're well educated. They're they they can critically think. And I agree with everyone. I think food is an essential part. how we prioritize that um with the the litany of things that have to be done like you and and we're not even talking sped all of the other stuff that comes with it. So, it's a it's a tough economic decision and you're absolutely right. How do we sustain this revenue to pay for this cost? Um because once you have an entitlement, it's
038hard to you can't get rid of an entitlement. I mean, you have K it was first through 12. No one K through 12 to be an entitlement and then now it's been four years old, three years old and that's fine. I'm not saying I'm against it. I'm just saying at some point something has to give. So how do we prioritize to make sure that those things most important? If it's school lunch that's most important, you know, how do we prioritize it? Because at the end of the day, something's got to give. And here's my thought that if it's for the schools that you got to take the money from K through 12, right? I mean, there'll be some supplemental monies can come in, but at some point we're going to steal from Peter to pay
039for Paul. So, somebody suffers down the road. It's, you know, I don't have an answer for that. I don't envy your positions on trying to make this thing work. I think the department is coming upon us to to help provide information for you. What like you say, transportation. Does a senior require transportation? Does a junior? And that's where we tried to work with the bus passes and and move along in that area. We've tried in, you know, just like energy, right? We've got a jump of nearly $20 million. What are we doing that it's the the two sides of the same coin. What are we doing to reduce our energy use? Those those are things we are working on. Will we get there fast enough? Senator, I I I can't give you a straight answer
040on that, but I hear what you're saying. So I I just would like the public to understand when they come in and testify, it's not that we oppose or something. It's that like your family budget, we have to make that crucial decisions on what gets funded and what bills gets paid for, right? Because whatever we decide today, we have to pay again down the future. And then people forget that there's all these costs and there's all these new bills and new ideas, wonderful ideas, free tuition for the University of Hawaii. this from that. Um, but that then affects our our K through 12, right? Because whatever monies goes somewhere else, they'll go. So hopefully when people come and testify, they can tell us where these monies might come from other than taxing the rich more
041because there's only so much you can tax the rich. Where where is the money going to come? Like in your household, where is the money going to come from when you only have x amount of dollars? I I I I admire what you guys do because it's a tough love situation. You got to tell them what it is, right? There's a line outside that door asking for money. We're not the only guys. Come Friday when you see all the people want Gas. And the party's only so big. That's the reality. So, what's the priority? No Gas and just let's go do I mean, that's fine. I can't do that. But then, you know, you have you have nonprofits and you have um you know, safety nets groups that are supporting other facets of our community,
042our seniors, our disabled, you know, there's so many other needs that how do we prioritize? I I think it's we have to internalize that in the department of education and I I know superintendent Hayashi has has challenged us to say hey guys this is not an unlimited pop which is why I have so much concerns about spending a million dollars for a kindergarten assessment as much as that might be nice to have kindergarten assessment that's good for one year compared to feeding the kids is to me that's the kinds of decisions that the OE has to come up with and and I've I've heard you many times. I've heard Senator Kedani and everybody else. Why are we spending this amount of money on consultants? Exactly. What's the value proposition? I think the kindergarten assessment state
043is required for the Yes, by us too, but we can change that. We're finding out that a million dollars. That's not what we had anticipated. I mean, recently we went and took care of a school on the Big Island that has a mold mitigation issue. So I just send my crew from Honolulu say listen guys we can do this with our own internal operation. What that does is the margin that would have gone to a contractor is not there. Our guys and and they've done a real good job of it. Uh so so it's the changing of the mentality and the dynamics. But back to your question, how do we fund this without putting additional strain on the state's budget? We have that obligation to do that. So we're working hard at that. um you
044know it regarding the the uh meals for the charter school we've had started discussions with and they have some limitations on what they can do. Can we take advantage of the critical mass that we have and that's part of the whole central kitchen idea. Do they need a kitchen or can we cook and chill and deliver meals to them? Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. [Music] Okay. Any questions? Not to our final item on this agenda. House Bill 500 relating to education appropriates funds to DOE to promote surfing as an intercolastic sport. to testify. Superintendent, please. Good afternoon, chair and vice chair, members of committee. Um on behalf of the department, Ray Fujino again standing in um offering comments. Oh, you want the Sorry. Okay. Sorry about that. Um, so the the comments right currently only
045Maui ML Maui is Scholastic League offers surfing and there's six public schools within that league. So, um, if this bill were to pass, it would only support those six schools on Maui. Northern leagues, um, on Kawaii, on Big Island, and Aahu have adopted surfing as a intercolastic sport, questions. Go ahead. So, um, this bill is not saying that the schools all have to do it. No, it's only talking of um for funding, but we have a process in place to for schools to request and adopt the new sports within the leagues. The purpose of the staff is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education to promote and support such as sport. So, we're not asking you guys to So what would this be in the line of your priorities in line priorities for our
046department or for athletics for schools and it would not be one of our priorities. Other questions members? So Rey, my question is when how long has this uh mommy school been doing surfing? [Music] I have to check exactly, but I think at least about 10 years. Did not know that. So do they do any national competitions? Not um from this from this league to the national. Yes, that's totally separate. The national competitions would be individuals going on their own through clubs. Yes. Okay. But it is from school to school. Correct. And currently um like I gave you an example on Aahu and OA the process would be like for schools to request and institute a new sport. It would require uh majority of the principles the voting member principles which is 12 out of 23
047to say yes to a new sport. And then for us to hold a new sport, you would have to have at least eight schools participating in that sport u to begin the sport. Have you guys have you guys asked the schools have they voted on it? Yes, we've had in the past um it would it would come from a member school. So member schools would bring it up at a principal's meeting. Um the last time there was interest, there was about six schools that were interested. Um, but it did not go to a motion for a vote or anything. Okay. On Aahu at least. I'm I'm not sure about the Big Island at Kawaii. Thank you. Okay. Is there currently a process for promotion of high school athletic sports that the DOE does? Currently, the
048the DOE would not be um involved in that process. It would be like in the league realm. Okay. Yeah, thank you. If there are no further questions, we're going to release this to [Music] reconvene. ing the committee on education. Members, after we vote, we are heading for next door for a a joint meeting with public safety. So um on this agenda for House Bill 54 relating to education establishing a nationally certified school psychologist incentive program. Recommendation uh of the chair is going to be to defer this measure. House Bill 1412 relating to libraries. Recommendation of the chair is going to be to pass with amendments. Um, we're going to delete academic libraries, research libraries, and special libraries from the definition of library on page two. We're al also going to ask the AG to provide
049their comments so that we can send them along to the next committee uh judiciary and also the librarian's comments to um the existing contracts would not be affected and also to add in in the amendment that the libraries cannot make printed copies or school libraries. Yes. And it's defective already. Um, House Bill 540. I'm sorry. So, House Bill 1412. Uh, chair votes I to pass with amendments. House Bill 1412 H21 pass with amendments. Chair vice chair. Hi Senator Reservations. Thank you for House Bill 540. The recommendation of the chair is to defer this. However, I'm asking the Department of Education to look at something else and rather rather than deny all the children who need breakfast and lunch that can't afford it but are not on the list to receive it. So, it's it's by
050school. Every principal makes that decision when a family falls in hard time or something, whatever. And you guys are going to have to use your discretion on that. I don't know what the cost is going to be, but I think we need to do something for that gap group. Thank you. Um, House Bill 500, uh, relating to education and appropriates funds to DOE to promote surfing. Again, the recommendation of the chair is to defer because according to DOE, you guys can do this already if the principles choose to do so. Thank you. So, is that it? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, we had another we had another agenda from a previous meeting. Um, so this was the meeting of March 15th for House Bill 960HD1. This is relating to to the school facilities authority um to
051transfer the $200,000 of general funds previously appropriated. Recommendation is to pass this with amendments. Uh to clarify that the appropriation for the school facilities special fund shall be for fiscal year 2023 2024 rather than the 2022 2023 on lines five and nine questions. Chair vzai pass with amendments. Hi. Thank you. And the last one for House Bill 961HD1 related to early learning. Uh recommendation uh is to pass with amendments to defect the date to July 1, 20150. Chair Bai recommendation HB961 pass amendments. Any member voting? Any members? Thank you. And again, we have another meeting joint hearing in next door. Thank you.