STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2916

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1756

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1756, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a standardized framework for operations and provide funding for after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools by:

 

     (1)  Establishing the Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, and Health (R.E.A.C.H.) program within the Office of Youth Services;

 

     (2)  Establishing a revolving fund to support the R.E.A.C.H. program; and

 

     (3)  Appropriating funds for establishment of the program and one full-time equivalent position to support the program.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Education, Board of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Office of Youth Services, REACH Out Hawaii, After-School All-Stars Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hui for Excellence in Education, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Maui Economic Development Board, Molokai Middle School, Waiakea Intermediate School, Washington Middle School, and eight individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

 

     Your Committees find that providing quality after-school programming for middle school students serves to improve the lives of Hawaii's at-risk youth, reduce juvenile crime, and save taxpayers some of the significant cost that disconnected youth create for the State.  Your Committees further find that middle school years are a pivotal time for children and that quality after-school programs have been shown to set students on the right path for future education and life success.  Keeping children engaged in positive after-school activities will improve school attendance, increase graduation rates, and keep children on the path toward productive futures.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the language to establish a R.E.A.C.H. program special fund instead of a revolving fund;

 

     (2)  Inserting language to specify uses for which the special fund monies may be expended; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1756, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1756, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair