Hawaii Senate Bill SCR43

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/22
• Refer: 3/11/22

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Education To Conduct An Electrical Assessment Of Public Schools For Purposes Of Heat Abatement And Air Filtration Upgrades.

Impact

The proposed assessments are critical as they could lead to significant improvements in the educational environment by identifying necessary upgrades for cooling and air purification systems. This initiative ties back to previous legislative efforts and appropriated funds under Act 47, which had aimed to enhance heat abatement measures in schools. However, many schools remain inadequate, underscoring the urgency for such assessments and subsequent actions.

Summary

SCR43 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution aiming to address the severe heat conditions in Hawaii's public classrooms, which can negatively impact student performance. The resolution requests the Department of Education to conduct a thorough electrical assessment of public and conversion charter schools to determine their capacity to support necessary upgrades for heat abatement and air filtration systems. Given the frequent occurrence of classroom temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, this initiative seeks to ensure classrooms are conducive to learning for students in Hawaii.

Contention

Notable contention surrounding SCR43 may arise from budget concerns and the prioritization of resources within the Department of Education. There could be debates regarding the adequacy of funding for such extensive assessments and subsequent upgrades. Additionally, while the resolution's intent is supported by the need for healthier learning environments, challenges in efficiently managing such infrastructure projects may lead to discussions about the feasibility and implementation timelines.