Report Title:

JROTC

Description:

Appropriates funds for a JROTC program at Honokaa and Laupahoehoe High Schools.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2893

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Congress established the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program in 1916 with the broad mandate to develop good citizenship and responsibility in young people. JROTC programs, which are organized and operated through the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, are taught as elective courses at more than three thousand high schools nationwide. JROTC courses are led by active duty and retired military personnel who teach good citizenship, personal responsibility, and service to country. Unlike college-level ROTC programs, JROTC programs do not obligate participating students to join the military.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a private, nonpartisan, policy-research institute, found that JROTC programs strengthen our youth, communities, and nation by nurturing individualism in the service of a common cause. JROTC programs build self-discipline, teamwork, motivation, and confidence in young people, which decrease school-related disciplinary problems for many participating students. JROTC programs do not promote militaristic anti-individualism.

While highly touted demonstration projects and pilot programs pertaining to youth development come and go all too regularly, the oldest and largest time-tested public enterprise for youth development is still the JROTC program.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of a JROTC program at Honokaa high school, with a detachment at Laupahoehoe high school.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $40,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005 to establish a JROTC program at Honokaa high school; provided that a JROTC detachment shall be established at Laupahoehoe high school.

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

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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