Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 132 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to maintain and expand the Department of Education's Peer Education Program.

Your Committee finds that many serious teenage health issues ranging from pregnancy to suicide are best addressed by having other peers enter the discussion. Teenagers are driven by peer pressure and a need to conform and belong to their groups. Yet they may not have the knowledge or skills necessary to reach out to helping agencies and mentors. Peer education programs such as the ones supported by this measure help troubled teens and others at risk to identify and solve their 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 and five more schools could be added in the 2001-2002 school year.

Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the appropriation amounts to $1 to further discussion of this issue. Additionally, your Committee has made technical nonsubstantive changes in keeping with proper drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 132, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 132, S.D. 1.