THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	63
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the department of education to use Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act monies to retain teachers and prevent furloughs.

 

 

        WHEREAS, the State's Department of Education is the only public education system in the country that is wholly state funded; and

 

        WHEREAS, this singular funding status has resulted in the department of education facing unique challenges to utilizing funds provided by the federal government to offset the negative economic impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and

 

        WHEREAS, the states that receive certain federal funds, including monies from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 116-136, 2020 (CARES Act), and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (CRRSAA), are required to assure that they will maintain support for education programs during fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 by meeting certain benchmarks; and

 

        WHEREAS, the CARES Act created the federal Education Stabilization Fund; and

 

        WHEREAS, the State, through the Department of Education, must comply with the provisions of the federal Education Stabilization Fund as set forth in section 18006 of the CARES Act to receive and expend CARES Act and CRRSAA monies, which, in part, requires the Department of Education to continue to pay its employees; and

 

        WHEREAS, in accepting and expending federal CARES Act and CRRSAA monies, the Department of Education employees must continue to receive their pay; and

 

        WHEREAS, the State, through the department of education, must also comply with the "maintenance of effort" provisions set forth in section 18008 of the CARES Act; and

 

        WHEREAS, these provisions require funding for public education to be maintained at the same funding levels as in fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019, for those funds that are part of the CARES Act and at a proportional funding level for the CRRSAA; and

 

        WHEREAS, federal monies received by the State to the Department of Education should be used to offset any budget reductions that would result in the reduction of personnel who are employed at the school level, including any budget reduction that results in a layoff, furlough, or pay reduction; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Department of Education is urged to use CARES Act and CRRSAA monies for the retention of teachers and to prevent furloughs; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Superintendent of Education and the Chairperson of the Board of Education.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

CARES Act; Funding; Teachers; Department of Education