Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the State Auditor to perform quarterly performance and management audits of the Department of Education and its related agencies. The bill aims to address concerns about the current internal audit structure by having an independent external auditor evaluate program effectiveness, leadership, federal fund usage, and school plans. These audits will rotate among different departments and must cover at least two performance and two management reviews each year. The Department of Education and its agencies are asked to use the audit results to adjust programs and resource allocation to better support student success and workforce preparation.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Governor of Hawaii to create procedures allowing out-of-state health care professionals to practice temporarily during a state of emergency without holding a Hawaii license. The measure specifically targets physicians, nurses, pharmacists, mental health counselors, and other designated professionals who must hold valid licenses in their home jurisdictions and be affiliated with recognized emergency response organizations. Key provisions include permitting telehealth services without prior patient relationships, requiring professionals to register within 24 hours of deployment, and limiting authorization to 60 days or until the emergency ends. The resolution also establishes an online registry for tracking participating professionals and includes liability protections for the state while maintaining malpractice standards for the practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to provide a written status update on the implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, an independent entity established in 2012 to oversee electric system reliability and interconnection processes. The bill directly affects the Public Utilities Commission and stakeholders involved in Hawaii's electric grid, including renewable energy project developers and ratepayers. It asks the Commission to explain specific functions they have implemented, identify reasons for delays, and provide a forecasted timeline for full implementation of the administrator's roles. Additionally, the resolution requires the Commission to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature until the administrator is fully operational.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the State Auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance and fiscal audit of the Department of Education's governance structure and administrative leadership in Hawaii. The audit will examine the roles, responsibilities, staffing, and costs associated with key leadership positions including the State Superintendent, Deputy Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, and Complex Area Superintendents. The review aims to evaluate whether the current organizational structure effectively supports the Department's strategic goals, identify any overlapping responsibilities, and provide recommendations for improving administrative efficiency and accountability. The Auditor will submit a detailed report with findings and potential legislative recommendations to the Legislature before the start of the 2027 session.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create a standardized bell schedule framework for public schools across the state. The proposed framework would organize school start and end times by level - elementary, middle, and high school - while still allowing local flexibility and meeting minimum instructional hour requirements. The bill requires the department to consult with school administrators, teachers, parents, students, and transportation providers during development. This initiative aims to address current inconsistencies in school schedules that affect transportation, staffing, family logistics, and coordination with community programs.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to create a standardized bell schedule framework for all public schools in the state. The proposal aims to address current inconsistencies in school start and end times that create challenges for families, transportation planning, and coordination with community programs. The framework would organize schedules by school level - elementary, middle, and high school - while allowing local flexibility within state instructional hour requirements. The Department of Education is directed to consult with school administrators, teachers, parents, students, and transportation providers during the development process.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally endorses Waikiki as a World Surfing Reserve, recognizing the area's historical significance to Native Hawaiian surf culture and its status as a globally renowned surf destination. The resolution highlights Waikiki's unique combination of rich surfing heritage, environmental importance, and economic value as a major tourist attraction. It acknowledges existing local management structures and the need to protect the area from climate change impacts while supporting ongoing conservation efforts. The resolution is non-binding and serves to transmit formal recognition to state and local officials, including the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to create a system that assigns responsibility for monitoring school construction and repair projects to local school leaders in each complex area. Under this proposal, local Complex Area Superintendents and their staff would oversee project progress from planning through completion, while the state Office of Facilities and Operations would keep overall management authority and provide statewide oversight. The resolution requires local leaders to submit quarterly reports on project status, budget, and any delays to the state office, which would then review the reports and offer technical assistance. The Department of Education must also develop clear procedures defining roles and responsibilities for all parties and report back to the Legislature by early 2027 with details on the new framework.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to provide a written update on how it has implemented the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, a role created in 2012 to oversee electric system reliability and interconnection processes. The request specifically seeks information on which reliability functions the Commission has committed to implementing since 2022, when state law required a study on interconnection delays and the establishment of this administrator. The resolution is based on concerns that renewable energy projects face significant delays and that the state may face capacity shortfalls, prompting the legislature to request transparency on progress toward this oversight role.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to merge two existing adult education schools, McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu Community School for Adults, into one statewide program called the Hawaii State Community School for Adults. The bill aims to improve program coordination, streamline operations, and better serve adult learners by creating a unified system that maintains current services while expanding access across the state. The resolution directs the Department to consult with affected employees and their representatives before implementation, develop a transition plan to minimize disruptions, and set a target start date of July 1, 2026.