STAND. COM. REP. NO. 758

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 500

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 500, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to formally establish the resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health (R.E.A.C.H) program.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Establishes the R.E.A.C.H. program within the Department of Education Office of Community Engagement for the purpose of enhancing after-school programs in public schools;

(2)  Establishes the R.E.A.C.H. program special fund to deposit revenues from fees assessed by and appropriations for the program; and

(3)  Requires the Office of Community Engagement to submit annual reports to the Legislature on the expenditure of funds for services funded by the program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Education Honolulu District Office, Lanai High and Elementary School, Department of Human Services Office of Youth Services, Keaau Middle School, Stevenson Middle School, Maui High School, Waialua High and Intermediate School, Molokai Middle School, Hawaii Youth Services Network, American Heart Association, Hui for Excellence in Education, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kapolei Middle School, and four individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that over half of first-time juvenile arrests are of youth within the middle school age range.  Your Committee further finds that after school programs keep children engaged, away from crime, and on a path that leads to success.  A single program to coordinate and align all after-school programs will help to standardize framework and funding and maximize the benefit of revenues collected by and appropriations made for after-school programs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the program specialist for the R.E.A.C.H. program from an appointee of the Governor to an employee of the Department of Education; and

(2) Specifying a deadline for the Community Engagement Office to submit the report to the Legislature.

     To provide necessary funding for the R.E.A.C.H. program, your Committee intends to consider including a general fund appropriation for the program within the General Appropriations Act of 2017.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 500, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 500, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair