52
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                                
___________________________________________________________________
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FACILITATE AND ASSIST
   EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN AND EVALUATE EXISTING STUDENT
   LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS.


 1       WHEREAS, in 1995, 18 Big Island students and their
 2 advisors, gathered at Kalopa State Park to form the first Youth
 3 Leadership Program to learn the legislative process and create
 4 legislation of their own and lobby it through the legislature;
 5 and
 6 
 7       WHEREAS, during the 1996 legislative session, the
 8 legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution No. 24, which
 9 addressed the concerns of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and
10 violence on campus, through the establishment of school and
11 community-based after-school programs; and
12 
13       WHEREAS, the student leaders developed programs which
14 included art classes, cooking, band, chess and sponsored events
15 such as Respect and Responsibility Day; and Drug Free / Positive
16 Choices Day which rewarded students for good behavior and other
17 positive activities which included afterschool clubs and sports
18 enjoyed by all students; and
19 
20       WHEREAS, in 1997, students from Rural South Hilo, North
21 Hilo, Kohala, and Hamakua gathered at the Keakealani Outdoor
22 Center in Volcano to brainstorm issues that were critical to
23 their Big Island schools and communities; and
24 
25       WHEREAS, as a result, the students helped mold House Bill
26 No. 1433, which appropriated $60,000 over a two year period, to
27 implement programs to help curb problems such as substance abuse,
28 gang activity, and teen pregnancy; and
29 
30       WHEREAS, in 1998, as a result of increased student
31 participation supported by the community as well as various state
32 agencies, the Big Island community saw a significant reduction in
33 drug abuse, gang activity, and teen pregnancy, which lead to the
34 passage of House Bill No. 87, which appropriated funds to support
35 the continuation of the community-based youth leadership
36 demonstration project; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, in 1999, 34 students from the First Representative
 2 District gathered at Kalopa State Park to contribute their ideas
 3 in giving back to their communities through constructive programs
 4 and activites which would allow students to perform at their
 5 highest potential and encourage them to soar to new heights and
 6 to brainstorm issues that were critical to their schools and
 7 communities and some of the subject areas discussed included
 8 counseling, guidance, support services, after school activities,
 9 community service, and summer programs to assist both students as
10 well as the community; and
11 
12       WHEREAS, more specifically, some of the suggestions of
13 possible programs and activities were, youth centers, teen
14 parenting classes, intra school intra murals, programs for high
15 school drop outs, free counseling for victims of violent crimes,
16 student volunteer tutors, college financial planning, assisting
17 the elderly,and feeding the homeless; and 
18 
19       WHEREAS, the collaborative work of concerned individuals,
20 public and private agencies, and the student leaders will result
21 in the value of partnership which will provide the opportunities
22 to youthful energies in a positive direction and the continued
23 success and well being of our youth; now therefore,
24 
25       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
26 Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of
27 2000, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education
28 (DOE), is requested to continue working with the student leaders
29 and advisors of Hilo High School, Kalanianaole Intermediate and
30 Elementary School, Laupahoehoe High and Middle School, Paauilo
31 Intermediate and Elementary School, Honokaa High and Intermediate
32 School, and Kohala High and Intermediate School to facilitate and
33 develop strategies to:
34 
35       (1)  Strengthen existing student leadership programs;
36 
37       (2)  Form greater partnerships to assist with the
38            implementation of more programs; and
39 
40       (3)  Expand programs to reach more students;
41 
42       (4)  Establish an accountability system for monies
43            appropriated for the Student Leadership Program;
44 
45 and
46 
47       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the process of facilitating

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 greater partnerships the DOE is requested to:
 2 
 3       (1)  Work with students and advisors to address the
 4            challenges that the student leaders have identified;
 5 
 6       (2)  Assist the students and advisors in developing an
 7            accountability system to measure the effectiveness of
 8            current programs; and
 9 
10       (3)  Submit a report of its findings and any
11            recommendations for proposed legislation, to the
12            Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
13            convening of the Regular Session of 2001;
14 
15 and
16 
17       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
18 Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of
19 Education and the Superintendent of the Hawaii District.