STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2221

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2083

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Housing and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2083 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to emphasize and establish support for after-school programs and prevention programs that address the issues listed above as objectives and policies for socio-cultural advancement in the Hawaii state plan.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Planned Parenthood, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, and seven individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committees find that this measure is a natural progression from Act 27, Session Laws of Hawaii Special Session 2009, enacting a medically accurate sexuality health education law (section 321-11.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes).

 

     Your Committees find that there is a persistent need for effective prevention strategies against bullying and domestic violence and prevention programs in schools promoting sexual health, emotional literacy, civic responsibility, and healthy relationships among family members, friends, and members of the community.   After-school programs and prevention programs in Hawaii's schools provide opportunities to raise awareness among students of these issues and educate students on effective prevention strategies.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Emphasizing that it is the policy of the State that the health education curriculum in schools address sexual and emotional health issues, and to use after-school and prevention programs to support student knowledge and skill building in current health topics; and

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to continue the discussions on this matter.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2083, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2083, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Housing and Human Services,

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair