Appropriates funds to maintain and expand the services provided by the department of education's peer education program. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The peer education program was established in 1988 to address such serious teen health issues as pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, violence, and suicide. The department of education has assumed the lead in the program by establishing broad-based, systemic, adolescent health prevention programs in the State's secondary schools. The services provided by the peer education program have become an essential component in our public school system, and support the implementation of the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards II for health education and the comprehensive student support system. In so doing, the peer education program attempts to educate teens on critical health issues and provides support to students who are at risk or in crisis, thus diminishing the cost and services needed for future adult intervention efforts. As a result, student peer educators become lifelong advocates for healthy living, and the students they service become more aware of critical health issues and make better choices.

The peer education program is implemented in twenty-six schools across the State and administered by a peer education resource teacher and clerical support. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to maintain the operation of peer education programs in these twenty-six schools, and to fund the establishment of peer education programs in five additional schools in the 2001-2002 school year.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for the program maintenance and operating expenses of the peer education program in the current twenty-six schools, and $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for an increase of peer education program services in five new schools.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.