WHEREAS, many girls enjoy the sport of football, but there are no varsity girls football teams in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii Congresswoman Patsy Mink championed the bill that would become Title IX of The Educational Amendments of 1972 and was renamed the "Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act"; and

WHEREAS, that law states, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance"; and

WHEREAS, girls may be allowed to play on boys varsity football teams in Hawaii, but safety remains an issue and many coaches both ignore girls' interest and try to dissuade girls from joining boys' teams; and

WHEREAS, even if they are only allowed to play flag football, many girls would appreciate the chance to play the sport; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Department of Education is requested to examine the possibility of initiating a statewide girls varsity football program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education submit a report to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 regular session on its findings and recommendations regarding the implementation of such a program; including cost estimates; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

Report Title:

Girls Football