STAND. COM. REP. NO. 550

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 87
                                     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.B. No.
87 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a community-based
pilot project that provides students with the opportunity to
participate in the formulation of activity programs.

     Testimony in support of the bill was received from the
Hawaii Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students, the North Hilo
Community Council, the Hamakua District Development Council, the
Rural South Hilo Community Association, and several students from
the island of Hawaii.  The Department of Education testified in
support of the intent of the bill.  In addition, students from
Kea`au Middle School and Waiakea High School, located on the
island of Hawaii, testified that they would like the pilot
project to be expanded to include their schools.

     Your Committee finds that including youth in the planning
and decisionmaking stages of programs and activities that
directly affect them enhances their success and effect.  Your
Committee also finds that peer programs and education are
effective tools in providing alternatives to activities such as
drug abuse, gang activity, and teen pregnancy.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by adding Kea`au Middle
School and Waiakea High School to the pilot project.

 
 
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     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 H.B. No.
87, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading
in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 87, H.D. 1, and be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair