Bill > SB2541

This bill establishes a temporary, independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission, comprised of nine members with expertise in fields like finance, planning, and education, to address declining public school enrollment and underutilized facilities in Hawaii. The commission will develop objective criteria, including enrollment projections, facility condition, operational costs, and equity considerations, to evaluate schools for potential consolidation, realignment, or closure. After conducting a statewide review and holding public hearings, the commission will submit a single, comprehensive list of recommendations to the Governor by October 1, 2027. The Governor then has an expedited process to either approve or disapprove the entire package of recommendations, without amendments, and if approved, it will be sent to the Legislature for a final up-or-down vote in their 2028 session. If the Legislature approves the recommendations, the Department of Education must implement them by July 1, 2028, and any closed school properties will be transferred to the School Facilities Authority for disposition, with proceeds going to a special fund. The commission will cease to exist on June 30, 2028, and $100,000 is appropriated for its operational costs. This process is modeled after the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) model, which is known for making difficult infrastructure decisions based on data and the overall public interest rather than local political pressures.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2541&year=2026