STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1434

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 58

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 58 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER REQUIRING STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT TO TAKE COURSES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Education to consider requiring students in grades six, seven, and eight to take courses in physical education and health education.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network, American Heart Association, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and sixteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that physical and health education provide many benefits to students.  Direct benefits are the knowledge imparted through instruction and curricula.  Research also suggests that students derive indirect benefits, such as increased concentration, improved scores in other subjects, and reduction in disruptive behavior.  For these reasons, your Committee supports this measure.

     When considering the requirement for physical and health education, your Committee also requests the Board of Education to evaluate the resources necessary for implementation.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 58 and recommends its adoption.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair