HB 247 Summary

• Appropriates funds for the Department of Education to install air conditioning in Hawaii public school permanent and portable classrooms that do not currently have units.

• Requires school principals to designate air conditioning installation as their school's top priority in order to receive funding.

• Notes that high classroom temperatures adversely affect student performance, concentration, and health, with temperatures over 80 degrees linked to decreased test performance.

• Acknowledges that the State previously installed air conditioning in over 1,000 classrooms across 88 schools on five islands during fall 2017, but additional classrooms remain without units.

• Takes effect July 1, 2050 (specific appropriation amount not filled in the bill text).