STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2830

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2822

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2822, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-SCHOOL HOUR PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish safe and structured learning environments for school‑aged children during non‑school hours.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Establishes a task force on non‑school hour programs;

     (2)  Appropriates temporary assistance for needy families funds for the safe haven after‑school program in Hawaii County and non‑school hour programs, in general; and

     (3)  Appropriates general funds for non‑school hour activities and an educational specialist II position within the Department of Education.

     The Department of Education and HiTech Quest submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General submitted comments.

     Statistics indicate that the rates of juvenile crime, drug use, and experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, and sexual activity increase among unsupervised older children during non‑school hours.  The Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Parks and Recreation, Hawaii State Student Council, and community agencies have collaborated for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of non‑school hour programs.  Their efforts have made a significant impact in the community.  Your Committee finds that this measure will support existing after school care endeavors, as well as encourage additional non‑school hour programs and activities.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the language regarding a non‑school hour activities program coordinator in section 9 of the bill because such a position has already been established;

     (2)  Establishing the non‑school hour activities task force within the Office of Youth Services instead of the Department of Education;

     (3)  Establishing an Educational Specialist II position within the Department of Education in lieu of a non‑school hour activities program coordinator position;

     (4)  Designating the Department of Human Services as the expending agency for the purposes of non‑school hour programs for kindergarten through twelfth grades that are administered by the Department of Education;

     (5)  Designating the Department of Human Services as the expending agency for the purposes of non‑school hour programs for children and youth enrolled in school;

     (6)  Clarifying the purpose of the measure and appropriations with respect to qualifying for federal temporary assistance for needy families block grants; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2822, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2822, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair