STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2811

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3099

       S.D. 1

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. 3099 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for out-of-school enrichment and learning for children in grades kindergarten through twelve.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Establishes the Hawaii Three to Six Out-of-School Program;

     (2)  Creates the Hawaii three to six out-of-school program revolving fund;

     (3)  Provides a single funding source to fund after-school programs included in the Hawaii Three to Six Out-of-School Program; and

     (4)  Appropriates $9,000,000 in general funds for deposit into the Hawaii three to six out-of-school program revolving fund and authorizes the expenditure of those funds for the Hawaii Three to Six Out-of-School Program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hawaii Youth Services Network, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Place-based Afterschool Literacy Support, Hawaii Afterschool Alliance, High Tech Youth Network, Moiliili Community Center, Parents and Children Together, Pioneering Healthier Communities Honolulu, and one individual. 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that approximately seventy-four per cent of all children in Hawaii are raised by working families and seventy-two per cent of parents surveyed in Hawaii agree that after-school programs help working parents retain their jobs by providing enrichment activities for their children during working hours.  Further, thirty-nine per cent of all Hawaii children who are not enrolled in an after-school program would likely participate in one, if such an after-school program were available in the community.  Your Committee recognizes the importance of after-school programs and finds that this measure will benefit both parents and children of Hawaii.

     Your Committee further finds that this approach will more efficiently utilize resources that go towards after-school programming, better align with Department of Education objectives and strategic goals, and maximize opportunities for collaboration as students transition between grade levels.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the:

     (1)  Proposed phased funding plan amounts to unspecified sums;

     (2)  Appropriation amounts for the Hawaii Three to Six Out-of-School Program from $9,000,000 to unspecified sums;

     (3)  Means of funding from a revolving fund to a special fund; and

     (4)  Effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on this measure.

     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. 3099, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3099, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair