Appropriates funds to track, coordinate, and facilitate volunteer efforts in public schools through the establishment of a volunteer coordinator position and volunteer pilot project.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Presently, there is an extensive reservoir of concerned and capable people who volunteer or desire to volunteer their time and expertise to the department of education, its schools, and its students. Many of these volunteers work through Hawaii 3R's, the Joint Venture Education Forum, the Rotary Club, and the Lion's Club, as well as individual companies and people. The Hawaii 3R's is a successful program that demonstrates what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors work together. Although its participants do fine work, the scope of their efforts is limited to the repair and maintenance of facilities. Their program benefits from having a clearly defined mission and the department of education benefits from having private assistance targeted to such a high-need area.

Nevertheless, there are many important types of activities in addition to repair and maintenance in which people volunteer or in which they would like to volunteer. A coordinator position and pilot project would assist in the success of a volunteer program in the department of education. To increase interested individuals to volunteer their services to the department of education, incentives such as health benefits can be used to encourage participation.

The purpose of this part is to:

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   Volunteers; benefits. The State shall ensure that department volunteers are covered by the same self-insured workers' compensation system offered to public employees and administrative state units, including the processing, investigation, and payment of claims."

SECTION 3. Section 87A-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§87A-19[]] Plans for part-time, temporary, [and] seasonal or casual employees[.]; and department of education volunteers. (a) The board may offer medical, hospital, or surgical benefits plans to part-time, temporary, [and] seasonal or casual employees, and department of education volunteers at no cost to the employers. The board may determine eligibility for part-time, temporary, [and] seasonal or casual employees, and department of education volunteers by rules exempt from chapter 91 as provided in section 87A-26."

SECTION 4. The department of education shall establish a volunteer coordinator position dedicated to tracking, coordinating, and facilitating volunteer efforts. The coordinator shall investigate alternative ways to assist or compensate volunteers with the cost of volunteering, such as providing meals, transportation services, or by offsetting costs of health insurance and property taxes.

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, to establish a volunteer coordinator position in the department of education dedicated to tracking, coordinating, and facilitating volunteer efforts in public schools.

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

SECTION 6. 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, to establish a pilot project to track, coordinate, and facilitate volunteer efforts in public schools.

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

SECTION 7. The department of education shall report to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006, on the progress of the volunteer pilot project and make recommendations for improvements and as to whether the project should be terminated or made permanent.

SECTION 8. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon approval; provided that sections 5 and 6 shall take effect on July 1, 2005.