Bill Text: HI HCR153 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 153 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Adult Education; Seniors; Service Delivery; Working Group

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-14 - Referred to HLT, EDN/HED, referral sheet 28 [HCR153 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HCR153-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	153
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING and the University of Hawaii Center on Aging TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW The Department of Education ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES, the University of Hawaii Free Senior Enrollment Opportunities, AND THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO SENIOR CITIZENS.

WHEREAS, various government and private nonprofit entities provide adult education services and opportunities for senior citizens on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, the members of the growing senior population benefit intellectually, socially, and physically from productive engagement in their community; and

WHEREAS, senior participation in free or low cost education courses often enhances the diversity and perspectives for all students in these classes; and

WHEREAS, the quantity and quality of educational opportunities for adult and senior residents can benefit from a conscientious and thoughtful review of these programs; and

WHEREAS, these services often complement each other but can sometimes be duplicative; and

WHEREAS, offering the same or similar services at multiple locations can be inefficient; and

WHEREAS, funding for the provision of services to seniors is limited; and

WHEREAS, coordinating and consolidating some University of Hawaii and Department of Education adult education opportunities and programs at selected locations and utilizing the savings to offer new learning opportunities may benefit seniors and be more economical; and

WHEREAS, the potential to improve the delivery of adult education services to seniors should be carefully examined so that decision-makers have clear bases for supporting programs and allocating funding; and

WHEREAS, the Executive Office on Aging is designated by state law as the lead agency in the coordination of a statewide system of aging and caregiver support services in the State; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii Center on Aging can provide research, data, and policy recommendations on issues relating to Hawaii's aging population; and

WHEREAS, senior advocate organizations such as Kokua Council have a longstanding involvement in promoting healthy and meaningful opportunities for Hawaii's seniors; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the Senate concurring, that the Executive Office on Aging and the University of Hawaii Center on Aging are requested to convene an adult education working group to review adult education services and opportunities presently offered to seniors, consider whether it would be effective to consolidate some programs in order to provide new and improved learning opportunities, and explore other potential education programs that might be beneficial to seniors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Office on Aging and the University of Hawaii Center on Aging are encouraged to include in the working group representatives from the:

(1) Department of Education;

(2) University of Hawaii Center on Aging;

(3) University of Hawaii Vice President for Academic Affairs;

(4) University of Hawaii Vice President for Community Colleges;

(5) Outreach College of the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

(6) AARP Hawaii; and

(7) Kokua Council; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members are requested to select a chair of the working group from among themselves; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, President of the University of Hawaii, Executive Director of AARP Hawaii, and President of Kokua Council.