STAND. COM. REP. NO. 302-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1756

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1756, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create opportunities for the youth of Hawaii to develop competencies that foster resiliency and enable them to achieve a successful transition to young adulthood by:

     (1)  Statutorily establishing the Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, and Health (R.E.A.C.H.) Program within the Office of Youth Services to provide after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools;

     (2)  Establishing the R.E.A.C.H. Program Revolving Fund to help meet the costs of administering and operating the program; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds to establish and operate the R.E.A.C.H. Program and to hire a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position for the Office of Youth Services to support the program.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Education, Office of Youth Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Youth Services Network, REACH Out Hawaii, Hui for Excellence in Education, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Kahoomiki, Afterschool Alliance, and two concerned individuals supported the bill.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1756, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair