Appropriates funding to hire additional career counselors for each public high school as recommended by nationally accepted standards. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Hawaii places great emphasis on providing students in the public school system with an education so that they can become mature, independent, productive, and responsible members of our society. In addition to the classroom education, career and college guidance are key elements in helping students to meet the challenges of life. As there are many and various careers and pathways for students to follow, as part of their public education, students need guidance to help them make more informed and better educational and career choices.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funding to place one career and college counselor in each public high school and any additional counselors as recommended by the American School Counselor Association.

SECTION 2. 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, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to hire at least one career and college counselor for every public high school and assist the department of education in meeting the national recommended standards of the American School Counselor Association.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.