Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2044 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Waipahu High School. Specifically, this measure appropriates funds for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the corps to be matched by the federal government.

Your Committee finds that Congress established the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in 1916 to develop good citizenship and responsibility in young people. Administered through the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the program remains the oldest, largest, and time-tested public enterprise for youth development. The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program teaches elective courses that emphasize good citizenship, personal responsibility, and service to country. The impact of the program has been overwhelmingly positive as it strengthens local communities and the nation by nurturing individualism in the service of a common cause, helps students develop self-discipline, and instills the values of teamwork, motivation, and self-confidence in young people. The emphasis on these values has resulted in a decrease of school-related disciplinary problems among students who participate in this program.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and 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. 2044, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2044, S.D. 1.