STAND. COM. REP. NO. 98

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 858

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 858 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and fund an evidence-based physical activity and nutrition education pilot program within the Department of Education's After-school Plus Program.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Moiliili Community Center, YMCA of Honolulu, Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance, and Kahoomiki.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that childhood obesity is a great concern in Hawaii.  Increased physical activity and nutrition education work to decrease instances of obesity.  The Fun 5 program has operated successfully within the Department of Education's After-school Plus Program and has provided nutrition education and structured physical activity for after school plus program participants.  Evidence has shown that among Fun 5 participants, the childhood obesity rate does not rise.  Implementing an evidence-based physical activity and nutrition education pilot program that gets children moving five days a week could help Hawaii's childhood obesity rate decline.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 858 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Human Services and Housing,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair