HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	759
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO COOLING SYSTEMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  (a)  The department of education and department of accounting and general services, in consultation with the state energy office of the department of business, economic development, and tourism and the Hawaii natural energy institute of the University of Hawaii, shall jointly conduct a comprehensive study and develop a master strategy for implementing cooling systems at all public school facilities, including:

     (1)  Applicable electrical and environmental standards governing the use of equipment to facilitate ideal room temperatures;

     (2)  Estimated capital improvement project costs;

     (3)  Projected long-term repair and maintenance costs; and

     (4)  Any other factors that are relevant to the consideration of the departments' proposals for funding the master strategy for implementing cooling systems at all public school facilities.

     (b)  The comprehensive study may be conducted in coordination with other infrastructure studies undertaken by the department of education for similar purposes to:

     (1)  Minimize duplication and maximize cost benefits; and

     (2)  Ensure that retrofits of infrastructure are performed in conjunction with energy-efficiency projects, deferred maintenance, and upgrades of facilities.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of education and department of accounting and general services shall submit a joint report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016.

     (b)  The report shall include:

     (1)  A timeline, including dates and prioritization schedules, for the implementation of the master strategy for implementing cooling systems at all public school facilities;

     (2)  Discussion of the capacity, infrastructure, and funding needs of the department of education in implementing the master strategy; and

     (3)  Discussion on how the master strategy complements and overlaps with the department of education's overall facilities master plan and sustainability efforts.

     SECTION 3.  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 2015-2016 for the development of a master strategy for implementing cooling systems at all public school facilities, including a comprehensive study, as specified in this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this section.

     SECTION 4.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2015-2016 for the purpose of funding projects that demonstrate efficient methods to cool classrooms in public schools.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this section.

     SECTION 5.  The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2018, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

 

Report Title:

Public Schools; Ideal Room Temperature; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires DOE and DAGS, in consultation with the State Energy Office of DBEDT and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute of UH, to develop a cooling master strategy and comprehensive retrofitting study for public schools and to report findings to the Legislature.  Authorizes general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for efficient classroom-cooling demonstration projects.  (HB759 HD1)

 

 

 

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