HB 2345

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
2345
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
S.D. 2
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.� The legislature finds that the centralized
system for managing school capital improvement projects within the department
of education has contributed to a substantial backlog of these projects.� This structure has resulted in delays,
reduced responsiveness to the needs of individual school communities, and
challenges in managing project timelines and budgets.
���� The
legislature further finds that the school facilities authority was established
by Act 72, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020 (Act 72), as a specialized agency
focused exclusively on the development and improvement of public school
facilities.� Act 72 intended the
consolidation of facilities-related expertise within the authority, including
the transfer of certain functions and positions from the department of
education.� That consolidation has not
yet been implemented.
���� The
legislature also finds that a decentralized, district‑based model for
managing capital improvement projects will improve efficiency, accountability,
and responsiveness.� Localizing
management within geographically based districts will allow decisions to be
made closer to the schools they affect and provide a phased framework for the
authority to assume broader capital improvement responsibilities in the future.
���� The
purpose of this Act is to modernize the State's school facilities management
by:
���� (1)� Requiring the school facilities
authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project
districts for the localized management of capital improvement projects;
���� (2)� Transferring vacant facilities
development branch positions from the department of education to the school
facilities authority; and
���� (3)� Transferring all functions, duties, and
funds related to capital improvement projects from the department of education
to the school facilities authority.
���� SECTION
2.� Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part VI, subpart C, to be
appropriately designated and to read as follows:
���� "�302A-   � Capital improvement project districts;
established.� (a)� The authority shall establish geographically
based capital improvement project districts to provide for the localized
management of project design, construction, and administration related to capital
improvement projects.� The boundaries of
these districts shall, to the extent practicable, align with the school
districts established for administrative purposes by the department.
���� (b)� Each geographically based capital improvement
project district shall be responsible for:
���� (1)� Providing localized management and
oversight of capital improvement project design and construction;
���� (2)� Administering project budgets and
managing project schedules to ensure timely and cost-effective completion; and
���� (3)� Serving as the primary local point
of contact for public schools within the district regarding capital improvement
projects and related needs.
���� (c)� The authority shall assign dedicated staff,
including a district facilities manager, to each geographically based capital
improvement project district to carry out the functions described in this
section.
���� �302A-   � Use of general funds for operations and
management; prohibited. �General
funds shall not be expended for the operations or management of the authority."
���� SECTION
3.� (a)�
All rights, powers, functions, and duties of the department of education
relating to capital improvement projects are transferred to the school
facilities authority.
���� (b)� All vacant positions within the department of
education's facilities development branch as of the effective date of this Act,
including all associated funding for salaries and benefits, are transferred to
the school facilities authority.
���� (c)� All appropriations, items of appropriation,
and unexpended balances of funds, including any federal funds, designated for capital
improvement projects within the department of education are transferred to the
school facilities authority.
���� SECTION
4.� There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$  or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of
establishing geographically based capital improvement project districts and
implementing the transfer of positions and funds pursuant to this Act.
���� The
sum appropriated shall be expended by the school facilities authority for the
purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION
5.� New statutory material is
underscored.
���� SECTION
6.� This Act shall take effect on July
31, 2055.
Report Title:
DOE; SFA; CIP; Districts; Transfer; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish
geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized
management of capital improvement projects.�
Transfers all capital improvement project functions, funds, and vacant
Facilities Development Branch positions from the Department of Education to the
School Facilities Authority.� Clarifies
that general funds shall not be used for operations or management of the
Authority.� Appropriates funds.� Effective 7/31/2055.� (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.