REPORT TITLE:
Education


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a community-based pilot project that enables students
to have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of
activity programs.  (HB87 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        87
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1        
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the youth of our
 
 2 society are constantly being barraged by temptations that can
 
 3 adversely alter their lives forever.  However, students can also
 
 4 play a meaningful and significant role in the development of
 
 5 programs that prevent problems such as drug abuse, gang activity,
 
 6 and teen pregnancy.
 
 7      The Hilo-Hamakua-Kohala communities have recognized the
 
 8 challenges that youth face and have organized themselves to
 
 9 recreate an economic base while maintaining a strong social
 
10 fabric.  One such example is the effort to unite students,
 
11 government agencies, and community groups in this region.
 
12      This Act appropriates funds to support this effort.
 
13      SECTION 2.  There is established in the department of
 
14 education for administrative purposes the community-based youth
 
15 leadership demonstration project for the Hilo-Hamakua-Kohala
 
16 region of the island of Hawaii.  The demonstration project shall
 
17 focus on the formulation of activities and programs to help youth
 
18 develop the skills and attitudes needed to prevent problems such
 
19 as drug abuse, gang activity, and teen pregnancy.  The
 
20 demonstration project shall incorporate the efforts of students,
 

 
Page 2                                                     87
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1        
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 the schools, relevant state and county agencies, and community
 
 2 organizations through the establishment of a steering committee
 
 3 at each participating school.  Each steering committee shall
 
 4 allocate the funds distributed to the respective school.
 
 5      The demonstration project shall emphasize the importance of
 
 6 having students participate in the development of solutions.  It
 
 7 shall involve students from the following schools in the region:
 
 8      (1)  Kohala high and intermediate school;
 
 9      (2)  Honokaa high and intermediate school;
 
10      (3)  Paauilo elementary and intermediate school;
 
11      (4)  Laupahoehoe high and elementary school;
 
12      (5)  Kalanianaole elementary and intermediate school;
 
13      (6)  Hilo high school;
 
14      (7)  Waiakea high school; and
 
15      (8)  Kea`au middle school.
 
16      In addition to the department of education, the department
 
17 of land and natural resources, the county department of parks and
 
18 recreation, the county police department, the county fire
 
19 department, and community organizations in the region shall also
 
20 be invited to participate on the steering committees.  Together
 
21 with students, the participants shall embrace four areas for
 
22 action:
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     87
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1        
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (1)  Expansion of the variety of after-school programs
 
 2           available to students, with the types of activities
 
 3           selected by the students in partnership with the
 
 4           participating agencies and organizations;
 
 5      (2)  Creation of transportation alternatives to make it
 
 6           possible for students to participate in these
 
 7           activities;
 
 8      (3)  Expansion of the peer education program to encompass
 
 9           all high schools, intermediate schools, and middle
 
10           schools in the region; and
 
11      (4)  Expansion of opportunities for teachers to counsel
 
12           students about making critical life decisions, such as
 
13           responding to offers of illegal drugs.
 
14      The department of education shall submit a status report to
 
15 the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening
 
16 of the regular session of 2000; and shall submit a formative
 
17 evaluation of the demonstration project to the legislature not
 
18 less than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
 
19 session of 2001.  The formative evaluation shall recommend
 
20 whether the demonstration project should be continued as a
 
21 demonstration project, with or without changes; or whether the
 
22 demonstration project should be discontinued.
 

 
 
 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1        
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 2 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much
 
 3 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 and the sum
 
 4 of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal
 
 5 year 2000-2001 for the community-based youth leadership
 
 6 demonstration project; provided that the sums appropriated shall
 
 7 be divided equally among the participating schools and allocated
 
 8 by steering committees.
 
 9      SECTION 4.  The sums appropriated shall be expended by the
 
10 department of education for the purposes of this Act.
 
11      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999, and
 
12 shall be repealed on June 30, 2001.