SB 494 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Summary

Requires the Auditor to conduct a financial audit of each charter school under the State Public Charter School Commission. Requires a report to the Legislature. Requires the State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on the Auditor's recommendations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 11, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB494_SD1 → SB494_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised to shift responsibility for conducting financial audits of charter schools from the Department of Budget and Finance to the Auditor, and added a requirement for the State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on the auditor's recommendations. The appropriation language was also updated to specify that funds will be used by the auditor rather than the Department of Budget and Finance.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include the State Public Charter School Commission as a new entity responsible for acting on audit recommendations, while the Department of Budget and Finance was removed from the audit process.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the entity responsible for conducting financial audits from the Department of Budget and Finance to the Auditor.

Added a new requirement for the State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on auditor recommendations within one year of the report submission.

FISCAL

Updated appropriation language to specify that funds will be expended by the auditor rather than the Department of Budget and Finance.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, LMG, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 164) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 345) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 3:08PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 1 co-sponsor