Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 57 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the establishment of sobriety schools, alternative schools, or dropout centers for students with substance abuse problems.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association. The Department of Education and Hawaii Youth Services Network submitted testimony in opposition.

Your Committees find that students who are recovering from substance abuse need a transitional haven to readjust to the demands of school. It has been shown that the first six to twelve months are vital for a newly sober youth, as approximately eighty percent return to substance abuse one year after treatment. One factor attributed to the high rate of recidivism is the return of the student to the same environment that caused the addiction. Providing a transitional environment would lower the rate of recidivism and open opportunities for the student to develop into a valuable and contributing member to society.

Although your Committees believe that providing a transitional environment is essential, there are concerns regarding the negative stigma attached to establishing alternative schools for substance abusers as well as privacy issues. Thus, your Committees have amended this measure by expanding alternative schools to include students who suffer from substance abuse.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 57, as amended herein, recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 57, S.D. 1.