HB2109.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in the United States, more than one-fourth of school-age children are left alone and unsupervised during after-school hours. The majority of these children are elementary- and intermediate-school students, at a time in life when various types of temptations surround them.

The legislature further finds that to counter such problems at the elementary-school level in Hawaii, the afterschool plus (A+) program was created in 1990 to provide an avenue to keep elementary-school students in a safe and nurturing environment--from the time the school day ends until the time that these children are picked up by their families. Moreover, the legislature finds that the A+ program has been operating successfully for the past decade, with more than 18,000 elementary-school students enrolled in A+ programs in more than one hundred eighty elementary schools statewide. Approximately two-thirds of A+ program sites are managed by independent contractors, such as the YMCA and Kamaaina Kids, and one-third are managed by department of education personnel.

The legislature further finds that for the past decade, an evidence-based physical-activity and nutritional-education program called "fun 5" has been operating successfully in nearly all of these locations as an integral part of the A+ program. The fun 5 program provides training for all A+ program group leaders (i.e., those who work directly with the children), supplies manuals and playground equipment, and provides hands-on instruction for physically active games and nutritional enlightenment.

In addition, the legislature finds that the fun 5 program, which for many of its participants is the only organized physical activity that they experience in a day, has shown positive results in boosting the children's level of physical activity, reducing their rate of obesity, and increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables. These achievements are accomplished through a hands-on and enjoyable program that promotes five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and at least thirty minutes of active physical exercise five days per week.

The legislature further finds that the kind of physical and nutritional activities that exist in the fun 5 program are and should be an integral part of the A+ program. However, since the establishment of the fun 5 program a decade ago, nearly all funding for the fun 5 program has come from private donations, a situation which has become significantly more difficult to maintain and which has substantially diminished the potential impact of the program.

The legislature further finds that the overall cost of operating the fun 5 program averages approximately $1 per child per month, which covers the training activities and equipment-replenishment requirements for after-school activities--but not the data collection necessary to sustain the program. Given the vital importance of physical activity and healthy eating to optimal childhood development and obesity prevention, the legislature believes that it is essential that funding for the fun 5 program be institutionalized within the budget of the A+ program itself.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Statutorily establish the fun 5 program within the A+ program, including:

(A) Ensuring its continued availability on a statewide basis; and

(B) Continuing to measure its effectiveness in providing an avenue for physical activity and nutritional education; and

(2) Appropriate funds to support the fun 5 program.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- After-school plus program; fun 5 program; funding. (a) There shall be established within the after-school plus program, hereinafter the A+ program, a component pertaining to physical activity and nutrition, to be known as the fun 5 program. The fun 5 program shall provide regular physical exercise and nutritional education in a manner that promotes active participation as an integral part of the A+ program and that meets the State's goals for a healthy diet and adequate exercise.

(b) Funding for the basic fun 5 program activities of training, equipment replenishment, and data collection shall be included within the A+ program budget and shall include:

(1) Support for training of all A+ program coordinators and group leaders;

(2) Necessary playground equipment and nutritional tools;

(3) Collection of data for the fun 5 program; and

(4) Periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the fun 5 program.

(c) The organization and management of training, data collection and management, and equipment replenishment for the fun 5 program shall be carried out by an independently-contracted, private entity, under the supervision of the department.

(d) The department may establish within the A+ program participation fees in an amount sufficient to maintain the fun 5 program in all elementary schools operated by the department.

(e) The independently-contracted private entity under subsection (c), in conjunction with the department, may seek funds from other public and private sources to supplement the costs of managing, expanding, and improving the fun 5 program.

(f) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the fun 5 program within the afterschool plus program of the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2109
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII