Report Title:

Community-Based Youth Leadership Demonstration Proj.; Puna

Description:

Establishes a community-based pilot project for the Puna community that enables students to have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of activity programs. Appropriates funds.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

575

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to education.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the youth of our society are constantly being barraged by temptations that can adversely alter their lives forever. Students, however, can also play a meaningful and significant role in the development of programs that prevent problems, such as drug abuse, gang activity, and teen pregnancy.

The Hilo-Hamakua-Kohala communities have recognized the challenges that youth face and have organized themselves to recreate an economic base while maintaining a strong social fabric. One such example is the community-based youth leadership demonstration project to unite students, government agencies, and community groups in this region.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a community-based youth leadership demonstration project in the Puna community of the county of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. There is established in the department of education, for administrative purposes, the community-based youth leadership demonstration project for the Puna region of the county of Hawaii. The demonstration project shall focus on the formulation of activities and programs to help youth develop the skills and attitudes needed to prevent problems, such as drug abuse, gang activity, and teen pregnancy. The demonstration project shall incorporate the efforts of students, the schools, relevant state and county agencies, and community organizations through the establishment of a steering committee at each participating school. Each steering committee shall allocate the funds distributed to the respective school.

The demonstration project shall emphasize the importance of having students participate in the development of solutions. It shall involve students from all schools in the Puna community.

In addition to the department of education, the department of land and natural resources, the county department of parks and recreation, the county police department, the county fire department, and community organizations in the region shall be invited to participate on the steering committees. Together with students, the participants shall embrace four areas for action:

(1) Expansion of the variety of after-school programs available to students, with the types of activities selected by the students in partnership with the participating agencies and organizations;

(2) Creation of transportation alternatives to make it possible for students to participate in these activities;

(3) Expansion of the peer education program to encompass all schools in the Puna community; and

(4) Expansion of opportunities for teachers to counsel students about making critical life decisions, such as responding to offers of illegal drugs.

The department of education shall submit: a status report to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2004; and a formative evaluation of the demonstration project to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2005. The formative evaluation shall recommend whether the demonstration project should be continued as a demonstration project, with or without changes, or whether the demonstration project should be discontinued.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the community-based youth leadership demonstration project; provided that the sums appropriated shall be divided equally among the participating schools and allocated by steering committees.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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