Bill > SB494

This bill requires the Hawaii State Auditor to conduct a comprehensive financial audit of each charter school under the State Public Charter School Commission, with the audit covering three key areas: a detailed list of financial expenditures from the past three years, financial information about faculty, and the school's cash on hand balance. The Auditor must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2026 regular legislative session, and the State Public Charter School Commission is then mandated to take action based on the Auditor's recommendations within one year of the report's submission. The bill appropriates funds from the state's general revenues to support the audit process, with funding allocated for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. While the bill is technically set to take effect on July 1, 2050 (which seems unusually far in the future), its immediate purpose appears to be establishing a systematic financial review process for charter schools to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=494&year=2026