Appropriates funds to create an additional instructor position for the Army JROTC program at Baldwin High School.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Congress established the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program in 1916 with the broad mandate to teach young people the value of citizenship, leadership, community service, and personal responsibility. JROTC programs, which are organized and operated through the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, are taught as elective courses at more than three thousand high schools nationwide. JROTC courses are led by retired military personnel who motivate young people to be better citizens by preparing them for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities, and privileges as citizens. Unlike college-level ROTC programs, JROTC programs do not obligate participating students to join the military.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a private, nonpartisan, policy-research institute, found that JROTC programs strengthen our youth, communities, and nation by nurturing individualism in the service of a common cause. JROTC programs develop skills in self-discipline, teamwork, motivation, and confidence in young people, all of which act to decrease school-related disciplinary problems for many participating students. JROTC programs do not promote militaristic anti-individualism.

While highly-touted demonstration projects and pilot programs geared toward youth development come and go with regrettable regularity, the JROTC program remains the oldest and largest time-tested public enterprise engaged in positive and successful youth development. The JROTC program at Baldwin High School is an exceptionally successful JROTC program, which has been an honor unit with distinction for ten years in a row. This year enrollment jumped from 157 students to 212, and an additional instructor is needed.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish an additional instructor position for the Army JROTC program at Baldwin High School.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $40,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to create and establish an additional instructor position for the Army JROTC program at Baldwin High School.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.