Bill Text: HI SB774 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: DOE; Non-School-Hour Programs; Safe Haven; TANF Funds; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB774 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB774-Amended.html
Report Title:
DOE; Non-School-Hour Programs; Safe Haven; TANF Funds; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates TANF funds for non-school-hour programs; introduces Hawaii county safe haven demonstration project. Effective 07/01/90. (SD2)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
774 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I. NON-SCHOOL-HOUR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many children are left unsupervised in the mornings and afternoons before and after school. Nationally, nearly two-thirds of school-aged children are in homes where both parents work, but few communities have a comprehensive system that provides before- and after-school care for children. Currently, Hawaii has a successful A+ program for students in grades K-6, as well as funding for the UPLINK program to serve older children who also need adult supervision. Statistics show that the rates of juvenile crime, drug use, and experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, and sexual activity increase among unsupervised older children during non‑school hours. These problems have been identified by and qualify for federal funding programs using temporary assistance for needy families block grants. The legislature further finds that there is widespread agreement that it is important to establish safe, structured, and supervised learning environments for school-aged children during non-school hours to avoid or prevent these problems.
In the past few years, funds were appropriated by the legislature to the department of education, the office of youth services, and the four counties. Through Act 281, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, over six thousand three hundred students participated in meaningful, wholesome, non-school-hour activities statewide.
The purpose of this part is to continue this commitment and appropriate additional temporary assistance for needy families program funds to provide school-aged children with positive, interesting, and meaningful opportunities and experiences through non-school-hour programs. Investment in these wholesome activities is intended to allow young people to explore their potential and interests; develop positive, healthy relationships with their family, peers, and community; and provide experiences that will help them to achieve success throughout their lifetime. Their involvement in these activities will deter problems of juvenile crime, drug use, and experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, and sexual activity.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the federal temporary assistance for needy families program funds the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 for non-school-hour programs.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services to provide supervision of children in kindergarten through twelfth grade under the department of education.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the federal temporary assistance for needy families program funds the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 for the office of youth services.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for non-school-hour programs for children and youth enrolled in school.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the federal temporary assistance for needy families program funds the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 for non-school-hour programs for children and youth enrolled in school.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services subject to the following allocation percentages, which are based on the number of children eighteen years of age or younger residing in each county as follows:
(1) Seventy-one per cent, city and county of Honolulu;
(2) Thirteen per cent, county of Hawaii;
(3) Eleven per cent, county of Maui; and
(4) Five per cent, county of Kauai.
SECTION 5. Moneys allocated for the purposes of this part shall not reduce existing funding for non-school-hour programs. Moneys shall be awarded by the expending agencies only to non‑school-hour programs that demonstrate a commitment to partnering with the public and private sectors and involve youth as active participants in all phases of program planning, implementation, and evaluation. All programs that receive moneys shall meet each quarter with their community partners for the purposes of program evaluation and improvement.
SECTION 6. The department of education, the office of youth services, and the counties shall convene annually to share information on the best practices and outcomes of non-school-hour programs. The office of youth services shall submit to the legislature an annual report on the programs funded under this part no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2010.
PART II. COUNTY OF HAWAII AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
SECTION 7. The island of Hawaii encompasses an area of 4,028 square miles and has a population of 167,000 residents. The island's population is spread over an area twice the size of all the other islands combined, which poses unique geographical challenges in the provision of programs and services to island residents.
Rural communities sometimes lack the necessary infrastructure to support and implement beneficial programs. Youth in rural communities can face challenges in remaining drug-free, engaged, and involved in positive activities because of the lack of transportation, facilities, and educational alternatives during afternoon and evening hours. Families have to travel significant distances to areas of employment that are clustered in the South Kohala, Kona, and Hilo areas. This results in many children being unsupervised after school. Drugs and substance abuse, primarily crystal methamphetamine, are taking a heavy toll on the children and families in these communities. The State remains committed to ensuring the safety and health of our children in rural areas.
Schools have the necessary infrastructure to provide support to youth, families, and communities, including classrooms, restrooms, parking areas, computer labs, gyms, and parks. In some rural communities, the only facilities for meetings and activities are the schools, which often remain closed during the afternoon and evening hours. Schools are the center of the community. Through partnerships among the department of education, the county, local businesses, and community organizations, students can be given the opportunity to remain at school to participate in non-school-hour recreational and educational programs. Increasing the positive alternatives available to our youth will provide untold benefits for the community.
Establishing the Hawaii safe haven demonstration program will allow communities to become engaged in the education and support of students. This demonstration program would permit schools to remain open after school with services to be provided by local businesses, organizations, and community volunteers. It would also allow for the collaboration, cooperation, and collective commitment of rural communities towards nurturing, guiding, and supporting youth and their families. The safe haven demonstration program is planned for implementation in the county of Hawaii as a model to be expanded to other islands following the successful demonstration of this program. One school will be selected by each department of education complex area superintendent as a demonstration site. A total of three schools will be part of this program during the first year of operation.
The legislature finds that unacceptable rates of adolescent substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancies, and other negative socio-economic statistics are occurring in Hawaii communities. The United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has clearly stated that community programs most effective in addressing negative behaviors among youth are programs that reduce the risk factors and increase the protective factors in the community. The safe haven demonstration program will accomplish both of these goals.
The purpose of this part is to assign a portion of the funds allocated to the county of Hawaii, designated in section 4 of this Act, for the implementation of the safe haven demonstration program.
SECTION 8. The county of Hawaii shall expend $ or so much thereof as may be necessary of the funds appropriated and allocated under section 4(2) of this Act for the purpose of implementing a safe haven demonstration program.
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 2, 3, and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2090.
