Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 620, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program at Kealakehe High School.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by Kealakehe High School U.S. Army JROTC and a JROTC cadet.

Your Committees find that Kealakehe High School has the only JROTC program of the twenty-six units in Hawaii that is not permanently funded in the state budget. Kealakehe's JROTC has ranked in the top five units in Hawaii for six years, and is one of the most active units in the State. It services approximately thirty-five percent special education students, many of whom would not come to school without JROTC.

Your Committees believe that the State should support exemplary programs such as the Kealakehe High School JROTC program in order to foster the personal growth of its participants.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 620, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.