Committee advances bill to evaluate school needs during planned power shutoffs

The Senate Committee on Education voted to advance SB 533, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Education to evaluate and mitigate impacts on schools from planned public safety power shutoff (PSPS) programs operated by investor‑owned utilities.

The Department of Education testified that 15 DOE schools are currently on the PSPS list and that preparations should focus on power for cafeterias and assistive devices for medically fragile students, plus shelf-stable meals when power is interrupted. “The two main things schools need assistance with are power, particularly for the cafeteria, and shelf-stable meals,” Deputy Superintendent Tammy Chun told the committee.

Hawaiian Electric testified in support and community groups including ROAR CARES urged the committee to act, citing lessons from recent wildfire responses. The DOE said PSPS events elsewhere have averaged 48 hours and the department seeks funding to keep schools open when conditions are otherwise safe.

The committee’s recommendation blanks the appropriation but notes $1,000,000 requested by DOE in committee paperwork and changes the effective date to July 1, 2050 in the committee draft. The recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted on the record (4 ayes, 1 excused). The committee specified technical amendments and placeholder appropriation language.