REPORT TITLE:
Education


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a community-based pilot project that enables students
to have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of
activity programs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           1221
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the youth of our
 
 2 society are constantly being barraged by temptations that can
 
 3 adversely alter their lives forever.  However, students can also
 
 4 play a meaningful and significant role in the development of
 
 5 programs that prevent problems such as drug abuse, gang activity,
 
 6 and teen pregnancy.
 
 7      The Hilo-Hamakua-Kohala communities have recognized the
 
 8 challenges that youth face and have organized themselves to
 
 9 recreate an economic base while maintaining a strong social
 
10 fabric.  One such example is the effort to unite students,
 
11 government agencies, and community groups in this region.
 
12      This Act appropriates funds to support this effort.
 
13      SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established in the department of
 
14 education for administrative purposes the community-based youth
 
15 leadership demonstration project for the Hilo-Hamakua-Kohala
 
16 region of the island of Hawaii.  The demonstration project shall
 
17 focus on the formulation of activities and programs to help youth
 
18 develop the skills and attitudes needed to prevent problems such
 
19 as drug abuse, gang activity, and teen pregnancy.  The
 

 
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 1 demonstration project shall incorporate the efforts of students,
 
 2 the schools, relevant state and county agencies, and community
 
 3 organizations through the establishment of a steering committee
 
 4 at each participating school.  Each steering committee shall
 
 5 allocate the funds distributed to the respective school.
 
 6      (b)  The demonstration project shall emphasize the
 
 7 importance of having students participate in the development of
 
 8 solutions.  It shall involve students from the following schools
 
 9 in the region:
 
10      (1)  Kohala high and intermediate school;
 
11      (2)  Honokaa high and intermediate school;
 
12      (3)  Paauilo elementary and intermediate school;
 
13      (4)  Laupahoehoe high and elementary school;
 
14      (5)  Kalanianaole elementary and intermediate school; and
 
15      (6)  Hilo high school.
 
16      (c)  In addition to the department of education, the
 
17 department of land and natural resources, the county department
 
18 of parks and recreation, the county police department, the county
 
19 fire department, and community organizations in the region shall
 
20 also be invited to participate on the steering committees.
 
21 Together with students, the participants shall embrace four areas
 
22 for action:
 
23      (1)  Expansion of the variety of after-school programs
 
24           available to students, with the types of activities
 

 
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 1           selected by the students in partnership with the
 
 2           participating agencies and organizations;
 
 3      (2)  Creation of transportation alternatives to make it
 
 4           possible for students to participate in these
 
 5           activities;
 
 6      (3)  Expansion of the peer education program to encompass
 
 7           all high schools, intermediate schools, and middle
 
 8           schools in the region; and
 
 9      (4)  Expansion of opportunities for teachers to counsel
 
10           students about making critical life decisions, such as
 
11           responding to offers of illegal drugs.
 
12      (d)  The department of education shall submit a status
 
13 report to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the
 
14 convening of the regular session of 2000; and shall submit a
 
15 formative evaluation of the demonstration project to the
 
16 legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of
 
17 the regular session of 2001.  The formative evaluation shall
 
18 recommend whether the demonstration project should be continued
 
19 as a demonstration project, with or without changes; or whether
 
20 the demonstration project should be discontinued.
 
21      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
22 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much
 
23 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, and the
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           1221
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary for
 
 2 fiscal year 2000-2001, for the community-based youth leadership
 
 3 demonstration project; provided that the sums appropriated shall
 
 4 be divided equally among the participating schools and allocated
 
 5 by steering committees.
 
 6      SECTION 4.  The sums appropriated shall be expended by the
 
 7 department of education for the purposes of this Act.
 
 8      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999, and
 
 9 shall be repealed on June 30, 2001.
 
10 
 
11                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________