STAND. COM. REP. NO. 242

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1177

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1177 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A GLOBAL YOUTH CENTER IN HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide funds for the establishment of a Global Youth Center in Hawaii to provide youth from around the world the opportunity to discuss and be educated on major global issues.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, Parents and Children Together, the East-West Center, the Hawaii-based All Believers Network, the United Nations Association, McCandless International, the International Student/Young Pugwash, the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, and twelve individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the world in which we live is increasingly developing into a global community.  Today's issues span countries and cultures and require global thinking that addresses the needs and concerns of a multitude of diverse political, religious, economic, and socioeconomic views.  Your Committee further finds that to achieve world peace, sustainability, and productivity for future generations, collaborative efforts must be made now to educate and prepare the youth of the world.  In response to the Millennium Youth People's Congress, held in Hawaii in 1999, the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 151, H.D. 1 (2005), which recognized the need for a Global Youth Center to provide a forum for youth to be educated on and address major global issues and further recognized the role that Hawaii should play in establishing such a center. 

 

     Your Committee determines that continued support of a Global Youth Center in Hawaii will provide the framework for youth from around the world to become actively engaged in discussing issues related to and influencing the international community today, which in the long run will be of great benefit to everyone.  Your Committee believes that the Global Youth Center should also endeavor to provide Hawaii students, particularly public school students, opportunities to become more involved in international dialogue and interaction.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Including language that the Global Youth Center should ensure that Hawaii students, particularly public school students, are provided with opportunities to participate in programs and activities to increase awareness of global issues and to address these issues through a variety of activities including meetings and forums;

 

     (2)  Specifying that funds appropriated should be expended by the East-West Center through the University of Hawaii; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1177, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1177, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair