SB2233

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2233
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ESTABLISHING A GLOBAL YOUTH CENTER.

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

SECTION 1. World peace is a major collaborative goal and youth are the key to attaining world peace, environmental sustainability, and human and economic productivity for future generations. Hawaii's location at the center of the Pacific rim region between Asia and the Americas, its diverse culture, and its many shared languages provide an excellent strategic forum for meetings and exchanges, as demonstrated by the Millennium Youth People's Congress that was held in Hawaii in October 1999.

This Act is consistent with the bylaws of the Global Youth Center, Inc., and Global Youth Center of Hawaii, and with the vision statement of a major Global Youth Center contributor, the International Student/Young Pugwash, to address our global society threats from nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation, as well as social, economic, and environmental problems that put human security at risk. This Act is further consistent with the vision to effectively address our global society threats from international conflict and violence. New tools and methods need to be developed with an interdisciplinary framework to actively search for and realize sustainable and equitable solutions. To this end, the people of the world, particularly youth, must learn to think and act collaboratively in new ways.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a global youth center in Hawaii under the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304A‑ Global youth center; establishment. (a) There is established a global youth center within and in collaboration with the University of Hawaii. The global youth center is established for educational purposes, to support collaboration linking Hawaii youth with people around the world, working together to discover creative ways to develop the global future, and help shape a more peaceful and healthier earth. The global youth center shall generate and link an international framework in which youth from around the world may become actively engaged in the attainment of world peace, environmental sustainability, and human and economic productivity for future generations.

(b) The global youth center shall support collaboration between Hawaii and international youth in order to empower and train them to accomplish the following goals:

(1) Identify and address major global issues that will directly affect their generation and future generations and that need to be presently addressed;

(2) Develop and utilize youth leadership potential worldwide;

(3) Interact directly with policy decision makers and public opinion makers;

(4) Develop and lead partnership projects that positively impact communities and people locally and worldwide;

(5) Train youth to become future leaders by providing training in effective communications of their concerns and in facilitation of the debate on global issues referenced under paragraph (1);

(6) Develop educational programs on global issues referenced under paragraph (1);

(7) Conduct original research on global issues referenced under paragraph (1);

(8) Bring together various people and organizations that are diverse in order to address world problems, including but not limited to, peace, hunger, environmental protection, and public health; and

(9) Serve as an international clearinghouse for information on policies affecting youth around the world.

(c) For purposes of subsections (a) and (b), the global youth center shall collaborate with Hawaii's leaders in education, politics, and business, and appropriate international organizations."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________