STAND. COM. REP. NO.  325-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2030

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2030 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent risky behavior among children and youth by appropriating funds to the Department of Education (DOE), Office of Youth Services (OYS), and county departments of parks and recreation for non-school hour programs.

     DOE, HiTech Quest, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, Kualoa-He'eia Ecumenical Youth Project, Kaimuki-Waialae Branch of the YMCA of Honolulu, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  OYS supported the concept of this measure.  A concerned individual opposed this bill.

     While non-school hour programs must be considered in each school's priorities, your Committees recognize that time and financial constraints prevent schools from providing programs to students that may be more suitable outside of the school day.  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, known as STEM learning, need to be supported and expanded, as well as other experiential learning initiatives.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2030 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Education,

____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair