STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1258

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1203

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1203, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY SERVICE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to help encourage a sense of civic and community responsibility in the state's youth by directing the Office of Community Services (OCS) to establish a voluntary community service program whereby residents between the ages of 15 and 18 years may serve a minimum of 500 hours of community service and earn $3 per hour in scholarship funds to be used to finance any educational program until age 30.

 

     The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and a concerned individual supported this bill.  OCS supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee emphasizes that while there are some concerns over the implementation of this proposed program, the concept is laudable and deserving of continued discussion.  Volunteerism and community service not only allows students to participate in real-world learning experiences, but also teaches them the value of civic engagement.  By connecting students to local nonprofit organizations and state departments, this program will help foster in the state's youth a sense of social responsibility and a belief in their ability to make a difference in the world around them.  Additionally, by linking community service to scholarship funds, this program would help increase access to higher education by socio-economically disadvantaged youth.

 

     While the current fiscal climate limits the State's ability to effectively grow this program at this time, your Committee envisions the possibility of building it into a program with a similar vision and mission as the Peace Corps.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1203, S.D. 2, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair