STAND. COM. REP. NO. 419-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1699

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1699 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health program of the Department of Education to match the federal dollars that the State receives for the 21st Century Community Learning Center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Education; Department of Education; Department of Human Services; Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance; Hui for Excellence in Education; Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; After-School All-Stars Hawaii; Parents and Children Together; Hawaii Youth Services Network; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that after-school programming provides important learning and enrichment opportunities for Hawaii's youth while allowing parents to maintain employment. After-school programs are particularly needed for middle and intermediate school students, as the intermediate years are important for reversing high school drop-out rates and ensuring students remain engaged in their education and community.

Your Committee further finds that The R.E.A.C.H. initiative, which stands for "resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health", was established in 2013 to provide dedicated after-school programs for public middle and intermediate school students using a community-based approach. This measure appropriates funds for the R.E.A.C.H. program to promote youth and children's growth and development through after-school programs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

Should your Committee on Finance decide to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it appropriate $6,123,398 to the Department of Education for the Department's resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health program to match the federal dollars that the State receives for the 21st Century Community Learning Center.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1699, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1699, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair