Report Title:

Hawaii County; Anti-Drug Fund

Description:

Appropriates funds to the county of Hawaii to implement grass roots community involvement through the community anti-drug fund.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1593
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

making an appropriation for a community anti-drug fund.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1.  This legislature finds that drug abuse, particularly the use of crystal methamphetamine, also known as "ice," is the greatest threat to community health and public safety on the island of Hawai‘i.  Although a strategic element in combating drug abuse, the community cannot solely rely on increases in the policing and prosecution of abusers, nor can drug abuse be solved through institutional rehabilitation and education.  Grass roots community involvement is a necessary element in combating this plague upon the island of Hawai‘i.  In an effort to stimulate and implement grass roots community involvement in the fight against drug abuse, the county of Hawai‘i developed the community anti‑drug fund and implemented various drug and substance abuse services and programs, such as the healing our island fund, which is based on the community anti‑drug fund.  The healing our island fund was established two years ago and thus far, one hundred thirty community groups have received grants to address drug and other substance abuse services and programs.  This program is intended for non‑501(c)(3) organizations and community associations to conduct anti‑drug activities in their communities with a focus on the youth, family and neighborhood.  These grants are limited to requests of no more than $2,000 and are used for grass roots community‑based anti‑drug and substance abuse events.

These moneys are administered by the Hawai‘i county resource center, a division of the Hawai‘i county department of research and development.  All grant requests are evaluated by a committee of ten to fifteen representatives from county, state, and community members from every district of the island of Hawai‘i.  All grant requests that are not funded are provided assistance from the Hawaii county resource center to improve their applications and increase the likelihood of funding in the future.  Applications are reviewed monthly and funding made available the following month.  All grantees are required to submit a follow‑up report detailing their programs' or initiatives' impact on their community and the number of participants in anti‑drug efforts.

This program has been very well received in the community for the past two years.  Its purpose, to provide support to grass roots and community‑based anti‑drug efforts, has encouraged multiple communities to collaborate and cooperate in prevention efforts to address substance abuse issues.  The county of Hawai‘i looks forward to continuing this program with continued state legislative support.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for the county of Hawai‘i to implement grass roots community involvement through the community anti-drug fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Hawai‘i for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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