STAND. COM. REP. NO.  24

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 397

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 397 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to better prepare Hawaii's youth for future success by establishing a standardized framework and funding mechanism for afterschool programs in public middle schools.  Specifically, this bill:

 

     (1)  Statutorily establishes the Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, and Health (R.E.A.C.H.) Program within the Office of Youth Services;

 

     (2)  Stipulates the powers and duties of the Office of Youth Services with regard to the R.E.A.C.H. Program including the provision of funds for the Program; and

 

     (3)  Establishes the R.E.A.C.H. Program Revolving Fund to receive fees and other moneys to assist in the administration and operation of the R.E.A.C.H. Program.

 

     The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Office of Youth Services, the Hawaii Youth Services Network, REACH Out Hawaii, and an individual submitted testimony in support of this measure.


     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Correcting references to "middle or intermediate schools" to "middle schools" as these terms are synonymous;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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 H.B. No. 397, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 397, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Education.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair