Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 132, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to maintain and expand the Department of Education's (DOE) Peer Education Program.

DOE, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Adult Friends for Youth, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and a large number of concerned citizens and students testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that many serious teenage health issues ranging from pregnancy to suicide are best addressed by having other peers enter the discussion. Although agencies and organizations are available for assistance, teens may be too embarrassed or intimidated to seek help.

Peer education programs offer a less intimidating alternative to help troubled at-risk teens to identify and solve problems. Administrative support for the program is provided by a peer education resource teacher and clerical personnel. This program is currently available in twenty-six schools statewide. More schools may be added in the next school year.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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 S.B. No. 132, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 132, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.