Establishes an after-school activities program coordinator position in the department of education and establishes a task force to review and recommend improvements to the State's after-school activities programs. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature is committed to excellence in education in Hawaii. In the Reinventing Education Act, Act 51 of the regular session of 2004, the legislature found that significant changes were required to enhance Hawaii's public education system. In particular, the legislature found that "Although the State's students, parents, teachers, school administrators, departmental staff, and other educational stakeholders strive to achieve excellence, their efforts will never be completely successful until various aspects of the system around them are improved."

The legislature reiterates its support for efforts by the department of education to improve Hawaii's schools to enhance the academic achievement, safety and well being, and civic commitment of students, to meet the evolving needs of today's communities.

The legislature further finds great value in after-school programs. Research demonstrates that youth who participate in after-school programs are less likely to drink alcohol, smoke, use drugs, or drop out of school. The State's after-school programs provide safe and supervised after-school education, enrichment, and recreation for the youth. Positive activities after school help facilitate academic achievement, fulfill recreational needs, and promote civic responsibilities, as demonstrated by existing programs on or off campus by the office of youth services, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, and other agencies.

Although the State provides the A Plus program for lower grades and high schools have formal athletic programs, there are no formal after-school activities for students in grades six to eight. One way to amend this oversight is to provide for an after-school activities program coordinator. The coordinator position will be responsible for the coordination of all after-school activities and ensure that all students have access to quality programs.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to review the State's current after-school activities programs and make recommendations for improvements and appropriate funds for an after-school activities program coordinator.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-408, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-408 After-school and weekend programs. (a) The department and the appropriate county agencies may establish and regulate programs of after-school and weekend community-school activities for children, including but not limited to academics, child-care programs, arts and crafts, hula, ukulele, and other recreational projects, wherever feasible, at public school and public park facilities. In addition to any appropriation of public funds, reasonable fees established by the agencies operating the programs may be collected from children enrolled, in the furtherance of particular programs. The appropriate agencies may obtain from time to time the services of department of education personnel, students, and persons in a voluntary or unpaid capacity, exempt from chapter 76, as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this section, and may regulate their duties, powers, and responsibilities when not otherwise provided by law. Any person whose services have been so accepted, while engaged in the performance of duty under this section, shall be deemed a state employee or an employee of a political subdivision, as the case may be, in determining the liability of the State or the political subdivision for the negligent acts of these persons.

(b) There is established within the department of education an after-school activities program coordinator position to coordinate the State's after-school and weekend programs; provided that the coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the superintendent and may be established as a permanent position not subject to chapter 76.

(c) The department shall establish policies to assist in the improvement or development of new after school activities, including but not limited to the following:

SECTION 3. After-school activities task force. (a) There is established an after-school activities task force within the department of education. The after-school activities task force shall consist of the following members appointed by the superintendent of education:

(b) In carrying out its duties under this section, the task force may request staff assistance from the department of education, the department of human services, and other appropriate agencies.

(c) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessary for the performance of their duties.

(d) The task force shall:

(e) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including recommended legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006, and shall cease to exist on June 30, 2006.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for an after-school activities program coordinator.

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

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for after-school and weekend programs.

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

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 4 and 5 shall be effective on July 1, 2005.