Oppose SB3103

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OPPOSE SB3103, which would establish a “Schools Facility Agency” that is exempt from environmental impact statements, historic and cultural preservation, public procurement, and public transparency laws. The bill has a hearing on Tuesday, June 23rd at 1 PM.

This bill creates a new agency within the Dept. of Education that is responsible for all public school development, planning, and construction. This agency would be able to sidestep a number of Hawai‘i Laws (chapters 6E, 37, 76, 103, 103D, and 343). Of major concern for the Sierra Club is the exemption from Chapter 343- Environmental Impact Statements and Chapter 6E- State Historic Preservation.

  • Chapter 6E, HRS, is the only law for protecting and treating Hawaii’s significant historic properties and burials, including iwi kūpuna, or Native Hawaiian ancestral bones. This exemption makes it highly likely that important historic properties and burial sites will be altered, damaged, or destroyed by agency projects.

  • Chapter 343, HRS, requires environmental impact statements and assessments for projects. Compliance with Chapter 343 is as much about protecting natural and cultural resources as it is about ensuring our keiki have safe, well-designed schools.

Take action today OPPOSING SB3103! E-mail your testimony to LHETestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov or submit your testimony via the bill status page.

Sample testimony:

Dear Chair Woodson, Vice Chair Hashem, and Members of the Lower and Higher Education Committee,

Please OPPOSE SB3103.  While I support addressing our school facility needs, an agency exempt from procurement, environmental, and historic preservation laws will invite far more harm than good.  These laws keep our children safe, uphold the trust of taxpayers, and stop the outright desecration of all ancestral remains, Native Hawaiian or otherwise.  Such a controversial measure should NOT be passed in light of the limited opportunity for public participation and dialogue over its final amended form. Please do not vote for its passage and HOLD SB3103 in committee.


Thank you,
(your name)