Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 486, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish safe, structured learning environments for children and youth during nonschool-hours by appropriating general funds and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for nonschool-hour programs.

The Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Juvenile Justice Project, Coalition For A Drug-Free Hawaii, and Blueprint for Change testified in support of this bill. The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure. The Attorney General and Department of Human Services (DHS) provided comments.

Your Committee recognizes that many of Hawaii's youth are on their own in the after-school hours, when rates of juvenile crime, drug use, and sexual activity among adolescents are at their peak. Youth who participate in after-school programs have a significantly lower risk of participating in criminal activity and other risky behavior, and reap the rewards of positive socialization and interaction.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 486, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 486, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.