STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1536

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 153
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R.
No. 153 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEARN TO SWIM
     COALITION TO STUDY THE LEVEL OF ACCESS TO AND AFFORDABILITY
     OF SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTION AMONG HAWAII'S
     CHILDREN AND YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
"Learn To Swim" Coalition to study:

     (1)  The level of access to and affordability of swimming
          and water safety instruction among Hawaii's children
          and youth;

     (2)  If there are enough existing resources in the State to
          implement a statewide learn-to-swim program; and

     (3)  What funding would be needed from the State to pay for
          a statewide learn-to-swim program, including swim and
          water safety instructors, coordination, and
          transportation.

     The Department of Education and the YMCA of Honolulu
testified in support of the measure.  


 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1536
                                 Page 2

 
     The Department of Health (DOH) and the Keiki Injury
Prevention Coalition (KIPC) testified in support of the intent of
the measure.  DOH and KIPC also testified in favor of an
amendment requesting the Learn To Swim Coalition to study the
swimming proficiency and water safety skills among children
participating in various summer swim programs.

     Your Committee finds that water sports and activities are
major recreational pastimes of our residents, and it makes good
sense to teach people of all ages how to swim, especially
children.  Your Committee further finds that conducting a study
will help to determine the swimming proficiency of Hawaii's
children and youth in order to quantify the need for a learn-to-
swim program. 

     Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Deleting the request that the Learn To Swim Coalition
          study the level of access to and affordability of
          swimming and water safety instruction among Hawaii's
          children and youth;

     (2)  Requesting that the Learn To Swim Coalition study the
          swimming proficiency and water safety skills among
          children participating in various summer swim programs;

     (3)  Amending the title to read "REQUESTING THE LEARN TO
          SWIM COALITION TO STUDY THE SWIMMING PROFICIENCY AND
          WATER SAFETY SKILLS AMONG CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN
          VARIOUS SUMMER SWIM PROGRAMS"; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 153,
as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the
Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No.
153, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair