SR 185: REQUESTING THE office of the AUDITOR to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the Department of Education'S capital improvement Program.

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE office of the AUDITOR to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the Department of Education'S capital improvement Program.

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education manages the largest public infrastructure portfolio in the State, including hundreds of public school campuses and facilities that require ongoing maintenance, renovation, and construction; and

     WHEREAS, capital improvement projects are critical to ensuring that public school facilities are safe, functional, modern, and capable of supporting student learning and educational outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, the State has appropriated significant funding over time for school facility planning, design, construction, and deferred maintenance projects; and

     WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the size and duration of the Department of Education's capital improvement project backlog and the pace at which projects are implemented and completed; and

     WHEREAS, policymakers and the public would benefit from a comprehensive and transparent audit of the Department of Education's capital improvement program; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of the Auditor is authorized to conduct performance audits of state agencies and programs to improve accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in the use of public funds; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Office of the Auditor is requested to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the Department of Education's capital improvement program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit is requested to include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Any policies and procedures the Department of Education has adopted to achieve the goals of the program, including how capital improvement projects are prioritized and the internal controls to eliminate or reduce risks that may delay capital improvement projects;

     (2)  An assessment of the Department of Education's performance relative to those policies and procedures; and

     (3)  A comprehensive audit of any annual funds for any capital improvement projects that have lapsed in the previous year;

provided that for the purposes of the audit, "capital improvement project" is requested to mean any project for which the Legislature has appropriated funds to the Department of Education as a capital improvement project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

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

Report Title: 

DOE; Auditor; CIP; Audits; Report

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR to conduct a comprehensive performance and financial audit of the Department of Education'S capital improvement project backlog.

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education manages the largest public infrastructure portfolio in the State, including hundreds of public school campuses and facilities that require ongoing maintenance, renovation, and construction; and

     WHEREAS, capital improvement projects are critical to ensuring that public school facilities are safe, functional, modern, and capable of supporting student learning and educational outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, the State has appropriated significant funding over time for school facility planning, design, construction, and deferred maintenance projects; and

     WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the size and duration of the Department of Education's capital improvement project backlog and the pace at which projects are implemented and completed; and

     WHEREAS, policymakers and the public would benefit from a comprehensive and transparent accounting of the Department of Education's capital improvement project backlog, including the status of projects and the amount of funding required to complete the projects; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of the Auditor is authorized to conduct performance and financial audits of state agencies and programs to improve accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in the use of public funds; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a comprehensive performance and financial audit of the Department of Education's capital improvement project backlog; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit is requested to include but not be limited to:

     (1)  A complete inventory of the backlog of all Department of Education capital improvement projects;

     (2)  The total funding that has been appropriated, allocated, encumbered, obligated, or expended for each project;

     (3)  The current status of each project, including planning, design, procurement, construction, completion, or delay;

     (4)  The original estimated project cost compared with the most current cost estimate;

     (5)  Any identified delays, cost overruns, or administrative barriers affecting project delivery;

     (6)  The projected funding necessary to complete each project and to eliminate the existing backlog; and

     (7)  Recommendations to improve capital improvement project planning, budgeting, management, and execution within the Department of Education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

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

Report Title: 

DOE; Auditor; CIP; Audits; Report