STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2749

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2231

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2231 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the R.E.A.C.H. (resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health) program in the Office of Youth Services to provide a framework and funding for after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Public Charter School Commission, Office of Youth Services, Hawaii Afterschool Alliance, Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, Jarrett Middle School, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Kalakaua Middle School, Waipahu Intermediate School, President George Washington Middle School, Waialua High and Intermediate School, Family Programs Hawaii, Pioneering Healthier Communities, Honolulu, and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the middle school years are a turning point in the lives of many adolescents and it is when disengagement from school and community often begins.  Once adolescents disengage from their school or community, they are more likely to engage in poor decision making.  Juvenile violence rates are highest in the after-school hours on school days and in the evenings on non-school days.  Providing adolescents the opportunity to be engaged in after-school programs keeps them involved in their schools and communities, and less likely to commit crimes.

     Your Committee also finds that in 2013, the Lieutenant Governor's office established the R.E.A.C.H. initiative to develop a framework and funding base for after-school programs for public middle and intermediate school students.  While the initiative has been widely successful in engaging students in this critical age group with nineteen schools in the State having received initiative funding, your Committee believes that stability in funding and continued expansion to more schools can be achieved by codifying the program in statute.  

     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. 2231 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair