SB3279 • 2026

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Budget Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: DELA CRUZ, CHANG, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE, KIDANI
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
BOE; DOE; Internal Audit Office; Establishment; Appropriation ($) Establishes the Board of Education Internal Audit Office.
Requires the Board of Education to establish, as a standing committee of the Board, a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities.
Appropriates funds.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB3279 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3279 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3279 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB3279 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3279 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3279 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION .

Bill History

2026-03-30 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1508-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-24 H
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 16
2026-03-10 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-06 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 131) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-06 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
One Day Notice 03-06-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2859) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:56AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2327) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-02 S
Referred to EDU, WAM.
2026-01-30 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-30 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
BOE; DOE; Internal Audit Office; Establishment; Appropriation ($)
Establishes the Board of Education Internal Audit Office. Requires the Board of Education to establish, as a standing committee of the Board, a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB3279

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3279

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the Department of Education
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that section 5.1 of the bylaws of the Hawaii state board of
education establishes three standing committees, including the finance and
infrastructure committee with a scope that includes audit-rated
responsibilities.

����
The
legislature also finds that board of education policy 303-3 requires the
department of education to "conduct a program and fiscal evaluation of its
key strategic initiatives to identify program improvements and inform the
redirection of financial and human resources to support the effective
implementation of the Department's Strategic Plan for improved outcomes for
students as well as in furtherance of the Board's goals."
�
The policy also requires the department to
"conduct desk reviews on all other programs in a timely manner."

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Establish
in statute the board of education audit office to perform the evaluations
required by the board's policy; and

����
(2)
�
Require
the board to establish a standing committee with a scope that includes audits.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part IV, subpart B, to be
appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�302A-
��
��
Board
of education internal audit office; established; duties.
�
(a)
�
There is established within
the department the board of education internal audit office.

����
(b)
�
The board of education internal audit office
shall
conduct
program and fiscal
evaluations of the department's key strategic initiatives to identify program
improvements
and inform the redirection of financial and human resources to
support the effective implementation of the department's strategic plan for
improved outcomes for students, as well as in furtherance of the board's
goals.
�
The
board of education internal audit office
shall also conduct desk
reviews on all other programs in a timely manner.

����
�302A-

��
��
Board of education standing committee on
audit‑related responsibilities.
�

The board shall establish
a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $
���������
or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment and
functions of the board of education internal audit office.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

PART II

����
SECTION 4.
�

No funds appropriated to the department of education for fiscal year
2026-2027 shall be expended to fund or support the following:

����
(1)
�
Positions
(position title, position number, amount):

���������
(A)
�
Internal
audit director, #73090, $153,751;

���������
(B)
�
Secretary
IV, #59882, $54,986;

���������
(C)
�
Auditor
specialist II, #601797, $119,713;

���������
(D)
�
Auditor
specialist II, #602040, $116,430;

���������
(E)
�
Auditor
specialist II, #602519, $119,713;

���������
(F)
�
Auditor
specialist II, #603635, $114,823;

���������
(G)
�
Auditor
specialist II, #608578, $111,674;

���������
(H)
�
Auditor
specialist II, #E11409, $110,136;

���������
(I)
�
Evaluation
specialist II, #E10879, $110,136;

���������
(J)
�
Evaluation
specialist II, #E10880, $110,136; and

���������
(K)
�
Evaluation
specialist II, #E11498, $110,136; or

����
(2)
�
Expenses
(description, amount):

���������
(A)
�
Other
current expenses, $53,530; and

���������
(B)
�
Equipment,
$4,995.

PART III

����
SECTION 5.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 6.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE; BOE;
Audit; Program Evaluations; Fiscal Evaluations; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Board of Education Internal Audit Office to conduct program and fiscal
evaluations of the Department of Education's key strategic initiatives to
identify program improvements and provide other benefits.
�
Requires the Board of Education to establish
a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities.
�
Prohibits the Department of Education from
expending FY 2026-2027 appropriated moneys for certain auditor, evaluation
specialist, and related positions and expenses.
�

Appropriates moneys.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.