STAND. COM. REP. NO. 794

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 980

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 980 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide a standardized framework and funding for afterschool programs in public middle and intermediate schools.

     More specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Establishes the resources for the enrichment, athletics, culture, and health (R.E.A.C.H.) program within the Office of Youth Services; and

     (2)  Establishes a revolving fund to receive fees and other moneys to supplement the operating and administrative costs of the program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Office of Youth Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and REACH Out Hawaii.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

     Your Committee finds that over fifty-four thousand children in this State are left unsupervised after school until their parents return home from work each day.  Leaving children unsupervised during their middle and intermediate school years may lead to risky behavior and juvenile violence.  Your Committee believes that afterschool programs represent an upfront investment in Hawaii's youth.  Participating in high-quality afterschool programs may not only curb the potential for juvenile violence, but may also lead to improved attendance and better academic performance.  Your Committee finds that the R.E.A.C.H. program is a state-subsidized afterschool program for middle and intermediate public school students that requires reliable funding to continue providing uninterrupted services to Hawaii's youth.  Your Committee further finds that the objectives of the Office of Youth Services, within the Department of Human Services, are wholly aligned with those of the R.E.A.C.H. program, and that placing the program within the Office of Youth Services would be appropriate. 

     Your Committee also finds that the R.E.A.C.H. program revolving fund would more effectively operate as a special fund.  Your Committee further finds that annual reports on the R.E.A.C.H. program would assist the Legislature in making annual legislative appropriations and enhance the accountability of the program.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Establishing the R.E.A.C.H. program fund as a special fund, rather than a revolving fund; and

     (2)  Requiring that the R.E.A.C.H. program provide an annual report to the Legislature on the implementation of programs, use of funds, and efforts to obtain non-state funding to achieve financial stability.

     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. 980, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 980, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair