Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 945 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a designated stable source of funding for nonschool-hour programs for children and youth, and to appropriate funds for these programs.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, and American Box Car Racing International. Testimony in support of the intent of the measure was submitted by the Office of Youth Services, and the Departments of Budget and Finance and Education.

Your Committees find that the most likely time for a youth to be involved in a crime, either as a perpetrator or as a victim, illegal drug use, or sexual activity, is during the hours immediately following school. Studies show that the most effective way to keep students from engaging in these high-risk behaviors is by having them participate in activities during nonschool hours. Dedicated funding, as provided by this measure, will help to ensure the availability of quality programming for youth during the critical hours before and after school, on weekends and holidays, and during school breaks and other non-school hours, leading to lower rates of juvenile crime, illegal drug use, and teenage sexual activity.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 945 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.