HB2131 HSCR330-02

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.330-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2131

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2131 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to continue the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs at Waiakea and Kealakehe High Schools.

Many students, several teachers, and the principals at Waiakea and Kealakehe High Schools submitted testimony supporting this bill. The Department of Education (DOE) supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that students participating in the JROTC programs at Waiakea and Kealakehe High Schools have not only benefited personally from these outstanding programs, but have been model citizens, rendering service to the community. Moreover, several graduates of these programs have gone on to pursue military service as a career at our nation's top military academies.

 

Although the JROTC programs at these schools are relatively new, they have been among the most outstanding in the State and should not be allowed to expire because of the termination of state funding. All 26 of the public schools in Hawaii that have JROTC programs have permanent status under the DOE. Waiakea and Kealakehe High Schools are the only schools that are not under DOE's umbrella.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance to consider this fact and see what can be done to ensure the continuation of all JROTC programs throughout the State as part of the DOE budget.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2131 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

 

		____________________________ NESTOR GARCIA, Chair