001Good afternoon and welcome to the Senate Committee on Education. Today is Wednesday, February 8th at 3:00 p.m. We are in hearing room 229. This meeting, including the audio and video of remote participants, is being streamed live on YouTube. You will 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 and 3:05 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 Friday, February 10, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. in this room 229. And a public notice will be posted on the legislaturator's website. I'd like to take this time to remind
002our testifiers that due to time con restrictions on our hearings, we will be limiting testimony 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. Thank you. Thank you members for being here. And let us start with Senate Bill 1518 relating to the Department of Education provides procurement exemptions for the Department of Education for certain goods, services, and construction. Sunsets 6:30 2026 to testify. Superintendent Heayashi, please. Aloha Chair Kanani, Vice Chair Kim, members of the committee, Keith Aayashi, Superintendent testifying on behalf of the Department
003of Education. This measure would provide the department with the flexibility to procure educational materials most beneficial to students, educators, and schools in a more timely and less cumbersome manner. The department supports this measure with one recommended change that that uh page eight, line 18 of the bill be amended to replace the $100,000 figure with $100,000 for goods and services and $250,000 for construction. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Thank you. Let's hear from the procurement officer Bonnie. Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Bonnie Kahaku, acting administrator, state procurement office. We stand on our written testimony in opposition to this bill and available for questions. Thank you. Can you tell us why you're opposed, please? Yes. There's a couple of things. One thing is that we think that the code should be
004applied uniformly to all departments and not and not carve out a special exception for the DOE. Uh it also would if you leave the bill as is with 25,000 or not give the exemption. It's we believe that all vendors should be given an equal opportunity to compete for government uh contracts with just three quotes. We believe that it's possible for the vendors or I'm sorry for the schools to call the same three vendors over and over again or maybe just pick one vendor over and over again. It is more transparent if you do it electronically. It prevents fraud and collusion and it prevents parceling. It's very easily to parcel when you have uh just need to go to three coats. They feel that it might be easier to do three codes rather than to do
005an electronic repair. So, we're proposing that this bill not be passed. Thank you. Um Bonnie, what is the yearly average number of bids per solicitation for those posted on the Hawaii Eco? It's in the hundreds. Uh currently, there is 179 bids out today. I I don't know the exact number all the departments all all the executive departments that use hypro and all the departments use hypro all the executive departments has used hypro we actually require it for our executive departments for 15,000 to less than 100 and for construction up to 250 so it's basically small purchase in fact the DOE also uses hypro for some of their goods and services some but not No, I'm not I'm not sure which ones they use for it and which ones they don't. I do know that they
006they do use another electronic procurement system called HEPS and I believe they use that mostly for their construction. So, what is the yearly number of solicitations that receive no bids on Metro? I would have to get back with you. I just know that right now we require all our departments, all executive departments to use it for small purchases over 15,000. Members, any questions? Question Bonnie. So, is there any department that has any exemption or is everybody still under the same um procurement? Currently the law says 25,000 or more that all departments, all agencies, all juris jurisdictions use in electronic procurement system. U no one is I don't know anybody that's asked for an exemption from that and we've actually made it stricter on our staff. Does uh also have that? Yes, it's statuto. Okay. Thank
007you. Further questions members? The only reason why for me um the question would be that why wouldn't you feel or think that this should be necessary for DOE? I understand you're saying everybody should be shame excuse me same across the line but when it comes to I'm not going to talk good services but mostly on construction. Yeah. um especially with repairs or anything that we do with the DOE. It's 1882 by the time we get to them and it's like you know we try to find I'm not saying that they should be exempt for a lot of stuff but when it come to certain things for the DOE um we let them yesterday and construction costs um all kinds of cost just rises when it comes to you know because they think the state and
008the DOE get deep pockets. So when we delay certain things, it always takes a backseat. I'll give you an example when it came to um just bringing in and retrofitting the portables. You know, if if um sorry Heidi was Heidi Armstrong expediting certain things to get it done for Camel High School's 40 portables that we have, it it couldn't get done. So they always got to jump through all these hoops to do construction. So I mean I'm just saying about DOE. I'm not talking about anybody else. Why would you would you feel that it would be a benefit for DOE going into this direction? Actually I I think it would actually be easier for them to use an electronic procurement system. Again I'm not sure how they if it helps or if they want to
009use Hypro. We think Hypro is very user friendly. If you know how to fill in the boxes and you know the basics of procurement, it should be it should be easy. The way it's written now, you need to get three quotes. So someone has to call call these vendors, maybe three, maybe four, maybe five. Call them up independently, make sure everyone has the same specs, wait for responses, make sure they, you know, respond in a timely manner. With our um e- procurement system, it goes out to everybody simultaneously. We're not making phone calls and tracking, well, so and so didn't respond to me and so and so didn't respond to me. Goes out all simultaneously. You can ask questions uh on hypro question and answer period. All the responses come in uh come in uh
010the the buyers can't open the solicitation until it closes and so they get all of it one time. I don't see how doing it manually is quicker. The rules are exactly the same. The mechanism to put out the solicitation is a little different. you know, we're going into the to the electronic age and now we're going backwards. We're telling principles, teachers, whomever, you got to do the paper route. Call on the phone and get this information or I don't even know if anybody still has a fax machine, but you know, fax them the information or email the information. Why would you go backwards and making it more paper burdensome as opposed to less? Sure. But Bonnie, these are only for procurements for less than $100,000 and um subject to not less than three quotes for
011procurements of 5,000 to less than 15,000 and not less than three written quote quotes for procurements of 15,000 to less than 100,000. And you still have exception to that? I do. I do. The statute says the statute says 25,000. So up to 100,000 maybe 100,000 is not lot in the realm of construction but there are a lot of small vendors out there that would like to partake in u government activities and if they're not going to be given the opportunity to bid on it then how is this fair and how is it transparent? The Senates last summer, maybe two summers ago, talked about transparency and equal opportunity, and we've just taken a step backwards. How we how would the DOE guarantee that not the same three vendors are going to be called or not the
012same vendor is going to get the business over and over and over again? And parceling is a real issue for us in this um you know, portable bathrooms or or any bathrooms if it's We we can conceivably see that there could be a greater risk for parceling going over your $250,000 limit. If you're going to paint a whole school or even certain buildings of that school, one is 200,000, another one is 100,000, another one's 50,000. Collectively, you've gone over your 250, but if they parcel it out, this job is under 200, that's job under 200. And that job is under 200. So when we talk um superintendent come please. So when we talk about um good clothes for procurements or or goods let's talk about goods. So if you wanted to buy um a gross
013of pencils for two 257 schools and it cost you $100 per school. That's what 25 000. So you'd have to go on here as it is now. I think for for our senator chair the uh looking at goods for example um we are we are very much in our high schools and our throughout K12 we're looking at aligning our curriculum to u provide our students authentic opportunities that will help connect them to industry industry opportunities and and real life authentic learning. um for that purpose. Uh many of the equipment and such um are above $25,000 and uh that that price hasn't changed in some time. I I I know as a principal um it in looking to purchase these kinds of equipment for example uh with with healthcare uh schools are looking to purchase an
014anomal table and that provides students in health real opportunities to engage in um uh um in diagnosis of different different uh diseases. diseases and such and problems with the body. Uh that is that table is well over $25,000, but it definitely provides our students and opportunities to connect to to industry. And so when we're looking at at school level, looking at providing these kinds of equipments for students to be able to transition, uh raising the procurement threshold from 25,000 to 100,000 definitely helps to expedite that process. So, superintendent, how is being able to purchase a $26,000 table um by going on to an electronic version by then just going to people on the telephone? Oh, sorry. I didn't hear the So, how does buying a $26,000 table um now that you want to bypass going
015on it electronically, I mean, how does it make what changes that warrants you to now be exempt? Um schools are at at that point if if the uh special worries um it would allow schools in the the um uh many different opportunities for them to purchase these types of equipment but they can still purchase it on the it it does the problem that exists that you have to go up to 100,000. Maybe I should ask you that question. It it is um very complex for the schools and it does take um an inordinate amount of time. How much more time would it take to go on? We heard Bonnie say that it's simple, you know, you hit the boxes to versus calling up people, they're not there, you got to leave a message, you got
016to get the message set. How how does it make it easier? Unless you decide to go to one person, you already know who you want to buy it from. No, no, it it um it it does take time. It is not it for in my experience, it is not that uh it's not that quick. What is not that quick? it it may take u months to get uh things completed in in my experience. Okay. What what system do you use? Um currently at the schools um we do we do the um the we do all go out and secure the the bids for the three um check that not bids the three quotes. No, what system are you using or taps? Oh, one sec. Well, I ask um deputy to grow. You saying wait minute
017you're saying you have experience. So I want to know what your experience. So my experiences have been So what what programs are you using that is taking so long? Uh when when we go out and we're looking at purchasing these kinds of equipment, um we do engage with our um uh business managers to help that support us at the schools. Those are our complex area business managers. And so um as there's many things going on at the schools at once uh they help us to navigate the process to to ensure that we're following all of the the procedures. What system are you using? I I don't I don't know the exact name of the system. I'm sorry I don't So there's only there's what did you say? Heps and hypo. Hypro. Okay. H is for
018construction and hypo is for goods and services. So you folks use hypo. So how how cumbersome is hypo compared to getting on the phone and trying to call people. Is it okay senator the phone? Senator Curt, I used to be go so I'm really up on and I have a concern about um you know slip slipping and sliding every department want to get exempt because yeah it is cumbersome but the process, right? And if uh want to get exempted, I'm going to say no. Yes. So if I say yes to you, I I have to say yes to them. And that's a problem. So share with me on why you should say yes. Peru, deputy superintendent. Thanks. U be on both sides of the table. Now the DOE has some very specific uh procurements that
019are probably not uh for the rest of the executive branch. That's the first and foremost, right? They're buying different things. So does uh same same with uh so I I I see and understand and appreciate uh state procurement offices standards but a procurement code is for everything. I mean there's no cookie cutter. I mean right it's for all and is for all. So when it's in construction and we're we're renovating um again like one building is fine. Um the reason why sometimes on the neighbors especially when they go up for the procurement they have hundreds of buildings uh because we have 4,000 of them. Um having the the knowledge of a similar contractor on island or someone that did work at DOE on the same campus for consistency is important as opposed to putting out
020the bid for three and get awarding the low bid for whoever it's going to be. There's a lot of inconsistency. So that also leads to parceling and fraud. True. And I don't disagree with the state procurement office airport does the airport bundles the airports you know they get around the the threshold by extending the contracts and I've seen that happen at uh as well and I don't know if it's happened at BOE but it's a privilege that we would have to be very mindful of and like I said I appreciate the chief procurement officer's concern for partially because we don't want that. Um, so I I think we we need to work with this state procurement office to figure out how the uniqueness of a DOE campus uh uh and the uniqueness of making sure
021that the changes that we make are consistent especially on the technology side. We just can't it's unlike a state building when we're just renovating it. It's one time and it's very concise. In this case, you have multiple campuses with with or multiple rooms and classrooms within the same campus. Yes. But not all jobs go to bond. Yes, you're you're right. You're right. And so we need we need to have a process of check and balance. There's no question about that. Uh but with regard to the goods and services, as I said, uh just coming back from my puff high school, the the principal has very unique uh procurement needs for health and so it's unlike others. So, so having the latitude for a higher dollar amount and some ex exemption powers. I know we're we're
022diving into more autonomy that the DOE has currently. Uh but I understand your concern. Yeah, if I was looking for an expensive health table, one that the superintendent I would want to hear from a lot of different people to make sure that I get a competitive bid. I hate to go to just somebody that I know or two people and all of a sudden I think, oh yeah, that table is 25$ 26,000 and then I find out, wow, there are other people that are willing to go to 23,000 or 20. Um, you know, so you limit yourself. Um, you know, I regularly go on eBay and Amazon before I buy anything anymore because I want to make sure that I'm getting the best price. It's like, call up people. They don't even want to give
023you prices over the phone anymore. they they don't have time to answer the phone. You know, they tell you go to our website. So, I I I'm not comprehending how this will make it quicker, faster, more efficient, and and prevent us from doing problems that we've had in the past, and we continue to have on bundling and on parceling. Um, and and that's the price that we have to assure the state and yourself and state procurement office. There are going to be vendors that provide that kind of technology. that's very unique and it's probably leading edge and so the ability to be innovative and move forward. Don't you go to RFT if you want to is innovative and and so forth you can um I guess in this case it might be more of a
024sole source and justifying to SPO why this we do we do so why aren't you using that ability instead of getting a blanket blanket procurement um exemption that everybody else want to get the same thing that is one of the tools in in the arsenal that that they can apply absolutely Thank you, Bonnie. So, what is the um amount now that they have to go out for or use the electronic system? 25,000. 25,000,000. Yes. 10 before I thought we to 25. I don't recall. I I I only remember 25 and as I said of the executive branch departments we mandated that they go 15 I'm sorry mandated that executive branch departments have to use hypo for goods and services over 15,000 said 5 no5 um superintendent you know um You recently passed um a bill
025to says the the schools have to provide menstrual products for your your students. Yes. So what does that cost in the in terms of this is an example set so that the committee members can understand for 200 well it would be 257 schools or would it be all schools that you're going to have to purchase these products for? It would be for all schools, but chair, um, elementary school students, we're looking at supporting them sometimes as low as grade five. So, have you guys looked at what it's going to cost you to do that to the basic minstal products that you would need to do? Uh, let me check. What I'm getting at is just, you know, what what you guys are looking at and then, um, how long it's going to take you guys
026to go out to do the bid on this and get it to the schools. Can I ask right now with the money that was appropriated um with that bill, we based on a formula for each school, the money was distributed to the school and we limited purchase of only the products, not of dispensers, so that we can use this year and next year to establish what it's going to cost for each school. So we we um had an idea um when we multiplied the number of products used times the number of days times the number of girls um or um persons who are menrating in the schools um that was our formula. Now we're giving it this year and next year to see if that formula is accurate or if adjustments need to be made.
027But we took the appropriated money and um distributed to the schools. So I'm assuming then in that case most of the uh schools would would be able to purchase their products for under $2.5. Most of the schools. Yes. Thank you. One man follow up. So but isn't it cheaper if you buy it in bulk? Yes, it is. Right. Yes. Because you buy toilet paper, you buy paper towels all in bulk. Yes. And Right. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. But I guess Senator, what I'm getting at is that if they don't distribute it to the schools, the schools will not get it in time if they're having to go through this this process all the time. And I don't know if uh the schools have the capacity to store ahead of time. No, that's why I'm saying
028that if they buy it in bulk, then they can distribute it to the schools so that they will have it and be cheaper than going to each school under 25,000. But this is the case in favor of passing the bill. And that's why you're saying why we don't need it. Because we're not going to do toilet paper the same way. Thank you. Maybe now. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. No further questions. Let's move on to next. Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I have to let people testify on I I actually don't have you on the list, but please come forward. Thank you, chair. And if you don't have it, I'll be sure and get it back to you. Thank you. I'm Tim Lions with the Subcontractors Association. Um, and we oppose this bill, at least
029that portion of it that relates to construction. Obviously, we have no problem with goods and services, but you know, we think the the procurement code was written so that everybody runs by the same rules. Um, we don't like exemptions. We think that starts the process um of doing that. So, it's really a question of fairness. There are also a large number of small contractors that deal just in small contracts. And the reason they do that is because there's not a lot of complexity to staging the job. Um, their bonding requirements are a lot lower, their employee commitment is a lot lower. um and their payment oftentimes is a lot quicker because it is a smaller job. So um we would object to um taking those jobs out of the procurement code because some of our
030guys actually live on those. Thank you. Members questions. Thank you, Jim. Anyone else here to testify on this bill? If not, thank you. Moving on. Senate Bill 943 relating to school-based health services appropriates funds to the Department of Education to fund school health support staff to sustain the Hawaii Kiki Healthy and Ready to Learn program. to testify. Superintendent Hayasha, please. Go ahead. Good afternoon, Chair Kedani, Vice Chair Marcado Kim, and members of the committee. I'm Heidi Armstrong, Department of Education. The department stands on its written testimony in support of this measure. And I would also like to add one additional comment. Um that the positions funded through this measure would not re would complement the existing school health assistance and not replace them. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Thank you. Next to testify,
031Osatouille Junior, President HSTA. Aloha chairs and members, Leverne Moore, speaking on behalf of Osachi Jr., President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. We stand on our written testimony. Thank you. In support. In support. Thank you, L. Next to testify, Yuko Aricawa Cross, director, Executive Office on Early Learning. Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, and members of the committee. I'm Jordina Ferrer, representing um EO on behalf of Yuko. Uh we stand on our written testimony in support of the measure and defer to the Department of Education. Thank you, Jina. Next to testify, Fementina Seria Ole, interim dean, University of Hawaii School of Nursing. Good afternoon, Chair Kedani, Vice Chair Kim, and members of the committee. My name is Clementina Serv. I'm the interim dean for the uh Atmana Nancy at Maspara Walt School of Nursing or Nawson.
032So, um, thank you for the opportunity to present this testimony in strong support with proposed amendments for this measure for this measure, Senate Bill 493. And I would like to add that uh we are in full agreement that we should not duplicate services and commit to working together to ensure that schools have the health service coverage that they want and need. In addition, as the school health program initiative has grown, we have enjoyed partnering with federally qualified health centers or a FQC's who are entering into the school health service delivery environment. We actively support the DOE in ensuring that the Hawaii KQ services are planned around not over DOE contracted school-based clinics provided by the FQC's. The most important thing that we do not that we do in our program is facilitate the connections for
033care. By working with community partners over the years, which has tremendously grown, we have impacted students, schools, families, and communities. The real potential lies with our ability to collaborate, reconnect students to pri primary care providers and link students and families to appropriate community resources that are culturally accepted and easily accessible such as the FQHC's. Thank you. On Zoom, we have Laura Reichart for Hawaii State Center for Nursing. She's here in person. Popped out of the TV. Please come forward. Thank you. Um, I think we have a late testimony on Zoom. Jaylen Tashima, senior at Campbell High School. Is Jaylen there? Are you sure? Not present on the Zoom. I'm sorry, did not hear you. Not present on Zoom. Thank you. We have uh three others written testimony in support with comments. Members questions questions please.
034So with this bill, will the school health assistants no longer be needed? No, they they will they will absolutely be be needed. And this position is meant to complement the the work and um the load of the school health assistants, but the school health assistant is still the permanent school position. We're requesting funding for these additional positions for the next two years and we'll be looking at um redescribing or um a a position description for them. They were initially brought on to support the schools during COVID with COVID reporting um COVID um close contact identification and we'd like to continue their support though their efforts have morphed from that type of work but to helping the Shaws in the health room helping students with visits making referrals to the Hawaii kei program. Um, what these
035positions cannot do that the Shaws can do is administer medication. So, how many public schools is HPCA now serving? I'm sorry. How many public schools are they serving now? I think we have 170 of these positions. And how many public schools will the Hawaii Kiki Healthy and Ready to Learn program serve? Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood what you We have 170 of the um Hawaii Kei um support positions. Okay. So, what about the HPCA? Yeah. Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, and committee members. My name is Jennifer. I'm the school health section administrator. So, I oversee those partnerships with the FQHC's. HPCA is the umbrella organization. They don't actually provide direct services, but we do have cooperative agreements with four of the community health centers, and they provide services in eight of our schools. Are these
036high schools or intermediate schools? It's a combination of um elementary, middle, and high schools. It really depends on the the resources that the community health center has available and the needs of the school. So, are there overlapping services that both of these um organizations are providing or are they working together? Right. The the goal is really to to meet the health needs of all of our students. The um we want to continue to strengthen our partnerships with community health centers. They service our most vulnerable populations, but they do not have the capacity to provide services in all 258 of our schools. So, we've been really fortunate through the support of the legislature to have the Hawaii Kiki program to expand access to health care in our schools. What happens in the case when there's disagreement
037between the two groups? Um, that hasn't happened, but um we do have as a process for example for students who receive um nursing services under their IEP or 504 plan. Um to have a student team to convene to discuss any kind of um I guess disagreements on the kinds of services that are required for that child. Okay. So there is a process in place. Correct. Thank you. Members questions. Senator Fabella. What what is the difference between the qualifications of the isn't the um right now is it that health aid or CNA qualification? What is the qualifications on the two? What is the difference? Thank you for asking that question. Senator Favlla at the school the school health assistant must have a GED high school equivalency uh and current certification in CPR or first aid. However,
038the school health support staff through the Hawaii Kiki program must also be certified as a medical assistant, a certified nurse aid or a community health worker. So, they have more specialized educational backgrounds in order to provide a greater range of health services. So with that being in mind, are they going to be part of the um because isn't the uh health aid or whatever now is isn't they qualified under a union? Um that's correct that the school health assistants are members of the HGA union. So how is they going to work closely together? Is the other one going to be join the union to be part of a union? I'm not sure um if the school health support staff are eligible to participate in a union. Um they're not technically state employees, but the um
039school health assistants work very closely with the school health support staff. And so, especially during COVID, they were overwhelmed with the amount of work to respond and prevent the impact. And um and now we see a continued desire for uh the more specialized health services. For example, a school health support staff can utilize teleaalth in order to bring in an APRN for health consultation for a student with more advanced needs. Are you thinking um the working relationship that they have now is going to continue? I think that um yes, the working relationship that they have now will continue. And I think that what's been really great about the Hoy Kiki program is how responsive they have been to the changing needs of our schools. Yeah. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. So, um, is anyone here
040from HPCA? No, please stay. Okay. Okay. So, in their test, go ahead. Thank you. Um, not sure who to direct this question. Um, interesting conversation. Uh, but our rural schools, how does this apply there? And we're talking about hiring healthcare workers like they're readily available. And I know that that's not the case. So, um, it's also my understanding that the mental health needs are much higher now coming out of CO, but just because we put it on paper and fund it doesn't mean that we're going to be able to hire these people. So, what is the opinion or thoughts of that? Because I'm skeptical you're not going to find them. Well, thank you for those questions. We're hoping to sustain existing personnel. We're not hiring any additional. And so, these are already 170 individuals working
041in support of our schools. And um to address the remote or rural schools, they've been especially beneficial. Like I said, they can actually connect to more specialized health care. Um, for example, we've been working with the Hawaii Kiki program to try to have a nurse on Mikai now for several years unsuccessfully, but they have been able to to develop a support staff position there who can then consult with the APRN on Maui. Um, did I cover your your questions? I think so. If um if you have that, I'd like to see a list of those 170 where they are and what schools they actually attend to. We can do that and I can follow up with you. I'll let you know that um the to repeat the question. Oh, sorry. I don't know where that
042came from. I just wanted to let you know that we can provide you the location where they're based, but actually the schoolhouse support staff are able to service more than one school in their region. And so that's been also really helpful in order to be flexible for our school health needs. And and to that point, um you're based in one region. What schools in that region are they servicing? We are organized at the complex level for our our nursing support. And so and then there's a complex area lead. And so the complex area lead would facilitate the coordination and distribution of staff as needed. you might want to um ask more of those questions for the Hawaii Kiki program. They manage their personnel in response to our needs. Okay. Um and I think we will,
043but I want to see where these people are actually going, not just the region where they could be going, where they Yeah. Yeah. I can provide you that list. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. We'll send you the list. Chair Kani. Okay. I I just wanted to ask one question. According to the testimony from HPCA, and I'm sorry that no one is here to ask their own questions, but um their concern is that this measure may unintentionally and inadvertently conflict with efforts to establish schoolbased health clinics at certain public schools. Can you respond to that? Yeah, we we are not um wanting to um stop the expansion of our federally qualified health centers. They provide great services in in um our most needy areas. And so our um our our work ahead is promoting the expansion
044of federally qualified health centers, but we know we won't have them, serving every school in every area. And so to ensure we have proper health um care for our kids while they're in school, we're partnering with the Hawaii Kiki program to fill in the gaps. Okay. Okay. So, who pays for the qualified cost? Um, the federal government has identified the geographic region, right? The um and so the cooperative agreements that we have in place with the FQC's have no money exchanged. I want to clarify if I can and build on on Heidi's response that the federally qualified centers serve as a medical care home. Those are the primary care providers. And through the Hawaii Kiki program, we have a constant referral process that when a student is uninsured or underinsured and needs more specialized care
045that they may be referred back to their primary care home, which would be the FQC. So they're they're kind of different scope, right? The the FQC is our medical care home. Well, Kiki is providing school-based health services. So we do not ever intend to replace the child or their family's medical care home. Thank you for that explanation. Members, further questions. Not thank you. Okay, moving along. on Senate Bill 1044 relating to mental health appropriates monies to hire school-based youth. Mental health specialists for Hawaii Department of Education schools to testify. Superintendent Hayashi, please. Well, good afternoon, Chair Kedani, Vice Chair Marcato Kim, and members of the committee. I'm Heidi Armstrong, Department of Education. The department stands on its written testimony in support of this measure, and we thank you for um the opportunity to testify. I
046would like to add that the appropriation of funds to increase the school-based youth mental health workforce would strengthen the department's efforts to meet the needs of students in Hawaii schools um who who are experiencing trauma, grief, family separation, depression, and other crises. So, we we welcome um the intentions of this bill. Thank you. I did not see a dollar amount in the bill, though. We're just going to pull a number out of the air or is there something we we can we'll submit to you a recommended appropriation? Thank you. Okay. Um, is there anyone on Zoom waiting to testify? Judith. Judith Clark. Yes, I'm here. Aloha chair, members of the committee. I'm Judith Clark, executive director of Hawaii Youth Services Network. Um, Teen Link Hawaii, a web-based statewide information and support resource for adolesccents, reported
04729,560 website visits between April and September of 2022. Mental health and suicide were among the five most popular topics. uh we conduct evaluation for the Americanore program in the northern Marana Islands including a review of the reflection journals of but that are kept by the members who are high school seniors. We have seen a lot of comments in those journals around stress and mental health and I want to share a couple of them with you. One member wrote, "There's just so many things going on with school and some things outside of school that made me feel so overwhelmed." Another shared what helped. From time to time, I would also talk to some people about my mental health, and I am really glad that I have people to talk about it while feeling comfortable. These comments
048show why we need mental health workers in our schools. Thank you for this opportunity to testify. Thank you, Judith. Next to testify is Hana Haya Abad individual. Good afternoon, Chair Kedani, Vice Chair Makado Kim, and other committee members. My name is Dejanna and I am in support of Senate Bill 1044. Aside from my own journey with mental health, as a professional in the field of social work, I've seen the effects that trauma can have on individuals well-being. And when I worked as a case manager, I saw the impact that abuse, bullying, separation from family and moving to and even moving into a new home or school can have on a young person. I acknowledge that we already have counselors and professionals in the schools. However, Senate Bill 1044 is a step forward towards providing more
049access and more opportunities for children to seek support for their mental health. That said, please support Senate Bill 1044 and ensure the safety and well-being of the children here in Hawaii. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my testimony. Mahalo. Thank you very much. Next to testify, Chris Caulfield, chair, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. Is Chris there, please? It is Chris there not present on Zoom chair. Thank you. His testimony was in support. Next to testify, Leah Delos Santos, Youth Action Hawaii. Is Leah there? Not present on Zoom. Chair in support. Next, Richard Kagosuku, individual not present. And finally, Erica Skyler Hokkai, individual in support, not present on. Thank you. Members, are there any questions of the testifiers? Heidi, please. Heidi, what's the difference between a mental health specialist and a mental
050health therapist? Currently, we we have two um positions that that provide um mental health type services to our students. We have our current BHS, our behavioral health specialists. We have 313 of those across the state um who who provide services to about 8,600 students. Um that the services that they provide are intensive interventions um counseling sessions, crisis response, um trauma response, they do mental health promotion activities and prevention activities. Um these BHS staff are um either licensed mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists or social workers or they provide these services under the direct supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. The second position that we have that does more intensive um serves students with more intensive needs are our educational psychologists. And um currently we we are partnering with Shamanad University to um put 20
051um um eligible applicants through this program um so that when they graduate they can return to our schools and provide this higher level of mental health services to our students. So this bill is calling for mental health specialists. So what category would this in um in in in right we we want to increase the number of both um depending on our bianium budget requests the fund if if we aren't funded for our educational psychologists we do need these positions um it it helps prevent us from um having to write rely on residential placements for many of our students Um if we do if so we need to fill those positions. Well we have um we would like 20. How many vacancies do you have? 20. Do you have 20 vacancies and you want 20 more?
052I'm I'm going to ask Ida Bonila who leads this effort for us um in the department um to to give the fine details. Um hello chair, vice chair and committees of the members of the committ. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Um, currently we are hoping to establish the 20 educational psychologist positions. So, we just um entered into that um collaboration with the University of Shamanad to establish a doctoral program in educational psychology. And so, those folks will graduate from the program in 2025. And so the hope is that there's a cohort of 20 individuals um that will then enter into the DOE system and they have all signed contracts to um dedicate three years at a minimum of service. So we have 20 in that class. 20 all 20 signed All 20 signed
053a contract. Yes. And so this is in addition to the vacancies. Um we currently do um I know a concern area for us is our vacancies in our school psychology um role group and so we actually also just um worked on a collaboration with Shamanod to launch a school psychology homegrow program. Um that first cohort will be for 20 individuals as well that we're recruiting from the public. Um through a USDO grant that the uh the school-based behavioral health program received in 2021 were able to fund tuition for that cohort and those individuals will also sign a three-year commitment to the department. So those folks hopefully that graduating class will fill our current vacancies for the school psychologist position. classes graduating when? Um, because of the internship situation, we can actually have that group working
054within our system in two years. So, let me see if I got this right. We have 20 vacancies and those 20 in psychologists working with Shaman out of the cohort hopefully to have them ready in two years. And you want you're asking in this bill for another 20 positions. Is that correct? 20 positions to work with conjunction again in the cohort with graduates coming out about 2025. Uh we currently have 25 vacancies for the school psychologists that cohort would begin in fall of this year um to and the hope is right that in the in we're recruiting folks to fill those positions. Tony had 20 with the cohort studying in two years you want 20 more and then you're saying you have another 20 vacancies. Um the educational psychologist is not a position that currently
055exists within the department. We are asking to establish those. Okay. So this bill asks for what does this bill ask for? This bill was um providing resources for the department to hire additional youth mental health providers. So where did this fit in with what you just told us? So if if the legislature was to grant us monies, um we would like to utilize those funding. Um if we do not get the bianium request for the educational psychologist um if we don't get that request, we'd like to utilize any funding that you folks provide to support those positions that we would establish. Um, if we do get that bianium request, we do have a behavioral health specialist position and we would welcome the opportunity to expand that program and offer additional positions for complex areas that
056have increased needs. Still not getting my question answered. What are you asking for in the state? What are you asking for? We're we're asking for funding to increase the number of um personnel who are specialized in servicing our students with um mental health needs. And the the those positions include our behavioral health specialist positions, our BHS's, educational psychologists, which are in training now and will be available to us for hire in 2025 and then increasing the number of school psychologists. So how many positions is this all together? At a minimum it would be 20 20 educational psychologists and then ideally we would like a behavioral health specialist in every school. Right now um our behavioral health specialists can serve multiple schools. So um we would have to put that number on paper um how many
057we have currently and how many more we need to service every school you know I raised the same concern about we have vacancies now you going to fill all these positions in the cohort how you we're working very hard to partner with our um postsecary institutions to create programs um uh can't even fill theirs. Um I I don't have the the final answer for that, but I know that we seek every opportunity to partner with the institutions that do training for these positions um to to make those trainings available to qualified personnel. talking about sums from school year 2022 to 2023 which seems very Okay, thank you. Thank you. Hang on. It says the purpose of this act is to appropriate monies to hire schoolbased youth mental health specialists. Okay. So that's 20. Is that
058what you're saying? That's the 20. I'm confused this year. No, the the 20 that they would not be schoolbased. These would be they would service multiple schools. Um yeah, that's also school. Okay. School base would be for the state's public schools. Okay. School base would be our um behavioral health support, our behavior BHS positions. Okay. And that's one for each school you're saying, not 20. That's a different position. Correct. And that's a different The BHS is a different position from the educational psychologist. I'm sorry, but this bill is mental health specialist. I need mental health right now. Anyway, clarify. I'm going to defer this bill because I'm not understanding it. So, please clarify and we'll bring it back. But I need to can you list all the positions you want and how many of each
059instead of saying to hire school-based youth mental health specialist for the state's public schools with a blank appropriation. So yes, please. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, moving on. Senate Bill 1045 relating to career and technical education establishes a career and technical education working group to strengthen career and technical education in the state's public schools. Makes an appropriation to testify. Superintendent Hayashi Good afternoon, Senator Kedani, Vice um or Chair, I'm sorry. Good afternoon, Chair Kedani, Vice Chair Marcato Kim, and members of the committee. I'm Heidi Armstrong representing the Department of Education and the department stands on its written testimony. But I'd also like to add that we are supportive of a CT working group that could complement our existing efforts which are described in our testimony. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Um also
060Corey Rosen Lee on Zoom. Corey, please. Hello Kadani. Uh members of the Senate Education Committee. I'm Corey Rosen Lee, a teacher at Campbell High School. I'm here today to support SB105. Uh right now, in order to be a CTE concentrator, all you need is uh two credits in CTE. And this is not enough. Uh best country around the world in education is Finland. Best education in United States is in Massachusetts. Both of them allow their students to take half of all of their high school credits in CTE. The goal of this bill would be allowing all the parties, and that's going to be needed in order to accomplish it, to be able to come together to lay out a vision of how we can increase CTE credits in our high schools so that more of
061our students when they graduated, when they graduate will be prepared for highly skilled, high-paying jobs. Thank you. Thank you, Corey. I believe that's all the testifiers we have. There were com testimony with comments from Stephen Shaws in support I'm sorry with comments for Hawaii P20 and Chris Cfield chairperson of the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus also in support of this measure. Members questions. Okay. So, Heidi, we already have a working group. Is that correct? Yes, we do. And I'd like to um um call up Troy Suyoka who who helps lead these working groups. Good afternoon. Uh my name is Troy Suyoka. I am uh the CT specialist for Okay. So uh we do have uh pathway advisory councils that advise on each pathway uh CT pathway for the department and they're made up of
062industry uh partners uh post-secondary institutions members from the department and a secondary or post-secary administrator. Uh we are also working with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to convey to uh convene a work group to discuss uh CTE teacher lensure requirements uh for to attract more uh CTE teachers within our schools. So why go ahead? So why do you need this measure? It's requesting an appropriation. need an appropriation for what? Um, we we can stand on our existing working group in our working group structure. We don't need this. I'm not sure. Yeah, because this is calling to establish a working group which you already have. Yes. I can't make out the No, it's a Did you guys ask for this bill? Okay, you're off the Yeah. So, yeah, I'm not sure, but um yeah, unless unless
063you guys need an appropriation something, I'm not sure what wanted because you guys already have over and I thank you for that. I think one of the things that we do need to look at when it comes to the CTE is that um and I think we have to work with the teachers licensing board because right now you guys require all of your instructors to have degrees and so painter or a car body can not have that degree but they teacher teach the kids how to do the job. Um, so I think that's what we need to work on. Yeah, that so that's what we're working with uh HTSB on creating that working group and getting uh uh hopefully a better license or program. So they they've been amendable to Yes. Yes. Yes. So we're
064currently working with them. Great. Thank you very much. Okay, moving right along. Senate Bill 154 relating to education requires the Department of Education to develop and implement the school meal subsidy program to provide school lunch subsidies to children whose families do not otherwise qualify for free lunch under the federal free and reduced price lunch program subject to income eligibility rates funds. Superintendent Please. Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, and members of the committee. Curt, deputy superintendent. Department stands on its written testimony in support the measure. We're here to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you. Thank you. Osatui HSTA president Lever. Aloha chair and members. Lever Moore speaking on behalf of Osoi Jr. President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. The Hawaii State Teachers Association support Senate Bill 154 and we stand on our
065written testimony. Mahalo. Hello. Next to testify, you go cross executive office on early learning. Chair and members of the committee, we stand in support of our test or we stand on our testimony in support and defer to the Department of Education. Thank you. Thank you. Next to testify, Dry Bar told us, executive administrator, State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Hi, Chair Chase over with the Ohio State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Uh, we'd like to stand on our written testimony support, but we just wanted to add that malnutrition has been directly linked to developmental delays as well as can cause long-term disabilities. So, anything that kind of prevents this, we are in support of. Thank you. Thank you. Next to testify, Nate Hicks for Hawaii Public Health Institute. Law chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Thanks
066for having me. Uh yeah, Nate Hicks with Hawaii Public Health Institute. Uh stand on our written testimony, but also wanted to just highlight we offer public education for free to all students regardless of income. uh breakfast and lunch are a crucial part of being able to learn and so making sure that these students also have the food necessary regardless of their family's income is also crucially important for the education. Thank you. Thank you. Next to testify Nicole Wu Hawaii Children's Action Network speaks. Aloha chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Um thank you for hearing this bill. I'll stand on our written testimony in support of this bill. Thank you. Thank you. We have written comments and support from Chris Coughfield, Jordan Smith testifying for Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Cheryl Lee, Michael Walker, and Hunter.
067members questions for any of the testifiers department. So Kurt, what's the estimated cost of this program to the schools and what is the level of income that will bring it into it's not? Yeah, thank thanks for the question. Um today it's 125 million today uh the cost of food operation and that's feeding approximately only half of the student base. Um we also have challenges when we do collect. Um prior to the pandemic um non-colctions was about 73,000 um and then of course the pandemic hit so the numbers went down to 33,000 and 23,000 in those two years. it is back up to 93,000 and that's only about little under six months that for the rest of the half of the year. So we know that in addition to that um Senator Kim there are people
068that are that pay that can't pay. Um, so this this bill, while it's great because it's going to identify the gap, needs a lot of analysis because that could be another 80 84,000 students um that are not getting a meal from the DOE today. Um, we know that it was very popular during the pandemic with the federal aid meals for free. So, we knew that people took advantage of that, but there's a financial impact to this and there's also a capacity issue to this. Um, and so while the department is wholeheartedly in support of feeding all of our children nutritiously, I think we're going to need to do a lot more homework financially to give you that number. I'm not saying it's another 100 million, but if you just do straight math, if I'm feeding
069half of the students today and it's costing us 125 million, it's going to be that number cost the state will be probably close to that. Again, um, this bill doesn't call for everybody though, right? The bill some limitations or built in that the supposed to come up. There's a there's a determination of a gap on what that income is. Yeah. And and so that's what needs to be determined. It's not it doesn't specify, right? And so where do we draw the line for those that qualify because of income? Where do we draw the line on that next increment up? because we already know that those that do don't qualify for any subsidies are cannot pay as well. So that that's what I mean. It's a it's a number we can calculate. It's a matter of
070where we're going to draw that line and we're not prepared to do that. 5% pretty much I don't know what that 5% is and what that entails. Um, so the cost of the school month is that that's a subsidized amount. That's the full amount, right? So if we're calculating what what it would cost to have breakfast and lunch when they're not in school would be higher than what if you had to school lunch would be a lot more. Yes, absolutely. What does it cost for a child to buy school lunch over and over? I think it's 2 250 per meal because it's subsidized, but most, you know, it's a it's a kind of unique situation. not all the kids eat. And when we went through the pandemic and all meals were free, we still served
071the same level, but it shifted to the more challenged, economically challenged communities. So, the housing areas. So we saw that shift, but you know the kids that can or the families that can economically afford it, they weren't, you know, they weren't coming to school and they weren't eating the lunch, but those that need it when we did grab and go and all that. That's the shift we saw. But what Curtis, what we are trying to figure out is what is that shift going to look like and at what price point. So, of the 100,000 meals we feed today, 20,000 is for breakfast and the other 80,000 is for lunch. But where we want to go is the what what the science is telling us is if the kids eat breakfast, were better off. But they're
072challenged by coming on to school on time and rushing to their class and things like that. So, we're trying to figure that out. There's some dynamics that since I've come aboard, we've kind of looked at it very differently, right? How much of the lunches and breakfastes go into the waist? It It's not the entire lunch, but it's what's on that plate. Right. So, I went out to the Big Island uh at um one of the schools, elementary schools, and they were throwing away all the oranges. So, I go look at the trash can obviously, see what we're dumping, but most of the fruit and vegetables were being done dumped. Now, there's two reasons for that. One is they don't know how to the mistake we were making those oranges have to be peeled. Those kids
073can't peel oranges. And this was a younger group of K to six and then vegetables they just dump it. So two ways we're going to address that is we got to look at the dressing is what it come for the for the salads. Maybe that's not what they like. So we've done a number of food testing. The oranges, we all slice them now, but we're trying to move to tangerines where the younger kids can peel it better. So, that's some of the dynamics we're working with. So, have you have you checked recently as to what have been thrown away? Yes, it's about the same thing. Same thing, right? Milk thrown away. Uh milk, it's um so they have to take it. We have to offer they take and then some weren't drinking. So, on the
074other side of the counting table is we have an ice bucket that they can replace it. So, so that's that's okay. That that works for us. Just that we we spend so much on healthy meals and trying to provide fruits and vegetables and yet we provide it at a cost. Yes. And yet it gets thrown out. So, um I know growing up was poor. I didn't know how to eat fresh vegetable. My parents only fed me for vegetables. Of course, I didn't like vegetable. So, yeah, I I never I don't know any kind of nutritious certainty is going to change that. Yeah. It you know, and it's the federal standard. We have to put that on the plate. So, for us to get the reimbursement and there's uh multigrain requirements, there's sugar requirements, there's salt
075requirements. What's the federal reimbursement? I'm sorry. What is the federal reimbursement? Um it's I got to get the exact number, but it's pretty pretty low. So, recently 20%. Yeah. Well, the total money we get is 45 million, but the per meal expense or reimbursement is rather low. That has just gone up a little bit. Um, our congressional team in uh DC fought for the same reimbursement that Alaska gets at the minimum. We were behind, we were way below the deck and you know, you know, our costs are higher recently. Some of the products that we offer have ra risen 42%. So if our if the schools are serving these meals and the students aren't eating them all or aren't eating the nutrition point, it just improves the testimonies from people to say how important it
076is for our child's learning that they have these nutritious meals but they're not eating it then. Yeah. So the challenge we have is how to make it more appetizing and we're going through a lot of menu development uh and the variety. That's something we've done a number of different testing with different foods. We're looking to reintroduce salad bars which will help the local product. We use a lot of local beef. I'm telling you, no matter what they do, the kids will not eat certain things. They want hot dogs, they want pizza, they want burritos, pizzas, spaghetti is they don't want all this stuff. And at home, I wouldn't leave the table until they finish that stuff. But that's not how the game is played now. Well, I just sad that those food are being wasted.
077Yes. I I tell my team a successful food waste program is a failure in feeding our kids. So, we got to figure that out. It's a tough goal. Thank you. Well, the president said he's really happy about that. the the the problem is that um at one time when um Michelle Obama's you know standard 18 whatever whatever didn't we have an opportunity as a state to op out of that program because we had a program that we already at the time the Bush and um breakin administration thought that we had a good nutritious uh um meals for our kids and then um all of a sudden we was doing slim fasts and exercising on the TV and everybody with apple. I worked at Campbell High School as a custodian and I told you this already
078ran and I did my own thing 55 g. You guys know how big that is, right? All fruits. I did this one one day, one free day. Next day was a salad. The container to put the salad container to put the dress is all on that plate. And C high school had a little bit more with milk inside the pan than usual, but they gave him juice. So you milk, juice, salad, apple, and the entree. Some of that stuff can be substituted. So the juice maybe could fulfill some of the citrus requirements. You know that I had asked them that the lady them that was the lady that was selling the food and asked them why you guys making them take everything because the law the federal requirement but then it's throwing them away. You
079know what I mean? Hey members, we have 10 minutes and we have another agenda after this one. Jeez, I only talk one time. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry guys. So, so wait, but my question is I won't say I was done. I'm sorry. She was telling me I'm done. I thought it pretty clear. No, I love you. Um, so you said $125 million a day to serve. Is that just lunch? No. No. Total operation on that school year. Per year. Okay. Per year. And that is that just for lunch or is that for breakfast? Home meals that we serve at home for 50% on students. That's you say breakfast or lunch? Breakfast and lunch. 45 million is the federal reimbursement. Okay. So, but are you guys allowed to do any um like you said the kids throw
080away vegetables, etc. You can't um use something else besides Yeah, that's a tough one. I mean, we taking stuff out of the rubbish cans and no serve. So, the other we've got, we've got, you know, what they don't like. Why you keep serving what they don't like? So, classic is Yeah. Classic is I go to schools and talk to the kids. Exactly what you said. They like pizza. They like spaghetti. When we were doing co when we had the problem with the red hill water, right? So, we had to serve stuff that we didn't have to wash or minimum procure preparation and was pizza. They love pizza, but we got complaints from the parents. Please do not feed my kids pizza five days a week. But the other stuff, you got to prep, right? So,
081that's the tough part. It's a Yeah, it's a catch 22. You know what we unfortunately have to do a better job is food waste disposal and look at ways to recycle and work on that. That's what's going to be sad for the kids. The parents complain and vegetables. Pizza's good though. Yeah. My grandson says that. Okay. Uh the last bill on this agenda is Senate Bill 156 relating to board of education. requires the board of education to hold not less than six community forums annually with at least one community forum at each county. Requires the board to include an open forum for public comments on non-aggenda items. Requires a report to the legislature on implementing open forums to testify. Eric B turn off the computers not present on Zoom. here. Cynthia Bartlett, Moms for Liberty.
082Yes. Thank you for the opportunity to um to testify today. Um I wanted to say that uh we're very grateful for that, but it indicates um a problem when we just have we already have six meetings on the board of education policy. So that's already taken care of. But adding um the open forum at the end is an excellent idea and we're very happy about that and we would we would hope that an open agenda could be added in all BOE meetings. But I'm concerned about the report at the end. The bill says there will be a report after all these community meetings. But um how does that relate to action? because for three years during COVID this six this requirement of six meetings a year was just ignored and we didn't uh we didn't
083have any notifications going out to the parents at large and we tried to meet with the BOE again and again and again and it took us a long time it asking for that first community meeting to start with again so we're wondering with that kind of attitude they sort of forget that parents are also stakeholders And so how does this report help everyone in the end? That's just a comment I would like to find out about. Thank you for your testimony. Next to testify, Ryan Nicholas Luther. Thank you for waiting. I actually wanted to do a comment on 1518, but I know it was already going so long. So just uh yeah, I just wanted to say uh thank you chair, vice chair, members of the board for hearing for me today. Uh I strongly
084support SB 156 and I just wanted to state just a little bit more on that. I wrote a statement here over the past few years. I've been to numerous board meetings. I've definitely noticed how the times set by the board don't advocate for the ability for parents and guardians to make the meetings. Um that being said, the six community meetings that have been, you know, held, they were kind of pushed off because of COVID. So, I don't really know when those will be activated again, but I do know the times that are set are very difficult. So, with these six meetings that we can maybe look into pushing them a little bit later in that day, you know, I know it's strainous that everyone works very hard, but that would really help for parents to
085be able to voice their opinion. Um and then also of course with the open forms uh the non-aggenda items is is a great thing because not the agendas on these meetings are always set already by the department or other individuals and that would be a great way to advocate for what the parents and guardians um intent is and what what their needs are for the education system. And then just lastly I would like to say that there's an a development of a legislation committee that is taking the legislation intent uh for what the the education department or department needs which is you know which is great. Uh but I would also like to say that these open reports like the other testifier said uh it'd be great to see what an end result would be
086with those uh summaries that are done have been a lot of town hall meetings and whatnot and I do see just the strategic plan planning has a lot of the advocates and adding teachers into more of it and things like this but an end result would be great to kind of see in this bill. So, and just one more thing with HP 630 being denied, which was another thing that helped the parents. Uh, this is a very strong bill that would help to advocate for what the parents needs in our education system. Thank you again. Thank you. And there are um a number of comments uh from there's let's see from Billakei board of ed Cheryl Pakazard OIP and other um members we are going to move on right now. Were there any questions? Let's
087move on to the we have to go out of this meeting. Can we go right into the next agenda? Okay. The next agenda has one it one item. Senate Bill 531 relating to education authorizes the school facilities authority to appoint authorizes the school facilities authority to appoint an executive director and evaluate their perform their performance annually. Okay, let's see. Do we have any testifiers? I don't have a list of testifiers. Are there any? Oh, okay. All right. So, we're going to recess. Convening the committee on education. Recommendation of the chair for Senate Bill 1518 is to pass with amendments reducing the page 8 section 5 to 50,000 instead of 100,000 for goods and services and the 250,000 reducing to 125,000 for construction questions. Okay. So 1518 to pass with amendments. Chair bai. Chair bai on
088bill 1518 with amendments. Vice chair votes with reservations. Senator Kuha. Hi. Senator Richards with reservation. Senator Favlla. Hi. With five members present. Recommendations adopted. Thank you for Senate Bill 943. Recommendation of the chair is to pass as is relating to schoolbased health services. Chair side and Senate bill 94.3 as is. Vice chair. Is there any members voting with regulation? Any members voting in opposition hearing? None. Five members present. All voting in support. Recommendations adopted for Senate Bill 1044 relating to mental health. We're going to defer this to the 2023 education uh hearing 3 p.m. on February 15, 23. Senate Bill 10:45. Recommendation of the chair is to defer the bill. Senate Bill 154. Recommendation of the chair. This is relating to education and the school meal subsidy program. Recommendation is to pass Senate Bill 154
089but defect the date to 712050. Sure. Yeah. Any members voting in opposition? Any members with reservations? Hearing none of the Senate Bill 156 relating to the board of education. Same recommendation to pass as is but defect the date to 712050. Chair Bzai. Any members with voting with reservation? Any members voting opposition? Hearing none. Five members recommendations. And for the second agenda, Senate Bill 531 relating to education and the school facilities authority. Recommendation is to adopt the proposed SD1 and insert its contents into the measure and recommitting the measure back to the education committees. Do I need to give a date of hearing? Okay. Okay. Any members voting in opposition? Any members with reserv? Thank you.