Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2273 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support after-school programs for the Department of Education (DOE) by:

The Board of Education, DOE, Hawaii State Teachers Association, YMCA of Honolulu, and Kamaaina Kids submitted testimony in support of this bill.

Your Committee finds that the A-Plus program provides a place for young latchkey students to go after school rather than going to an empty home. Unfortunately, state support for A-Plus has been significantly reduced in recent years, making it difficult for DOE to operate this critical program and hire adequate numbers of qualified staff. The appropriation and the establishment of the Fund will both help to support the current needs of A-Plus.

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. 2273 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.