STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1626

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 81

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 81 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATE, AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 291C-3, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, FOR KEIKI HEALTH BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request all public elementary, intermediate, and middle schools in the State to participate in the Safe Routes to School program for keiki health benefits.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Safe Routes to School is a program that works to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk and bicycle to and from school. Because many of the Safe Routes to School program activities are eligible for funding under the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, the State should use federal funds available to supplement projects of the Department of Transportation that are adjacent to schools to enable students to safely walk and bike to and from school. Greater participation in the Safe Routes to School program by all public schools will get more children walking and bicycling to school, improve keiki safety, and increase health and physical activity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 81 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair