Bill Text: HI SB390 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Non-School Hour Positive Youth Programs; UPLINK; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-03-15 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EDN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Mizuno, Oshiro, Takai excused (3). [SB390 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2013-SB390-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
390 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that UPLINK is an after-school program for middle-school students in Hawaii that keeps youth actively involved in their school and community, allows youth to exercise daily, explores academic and career opportunities for youth, teaches youth how to prepare healthy meals, keeps youth engaged in positive activities, and reduces opportunities to engage in negative lifestyle choices. The focus of the program, as mandated by the department of human services, is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to those immediate hours after school, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., when students may be tempted to engage in "risky" behaviors. UPLINK accepts all students who want to participate and whose parents have registered them for the program at their individual schools. The program encourages students to make sound decisions in regards to sexual activity and drugs, learn how to be respectful of others, nurture relationships, develop competencies that can be carried into later experiences, and make contributions to the community. In five years, no middle school pregnancies have occurred among students participating in the program. The program also provides academic and remediation support to students in grades six, seven, and eight, providing optional high interest activities that focus on developing positive character traits in what schools refer to as the 5C's: character, confidence, competence, connection, and contribution. Fourteen of the schools reported that students in the program passed all their classes in the ninety to one hundred per cent range.
The legislature further finds that there are currently twenty-seven middle schools participating in the program, which began in 2005 with one pilot school. The program, which is free to middle school students in participating schools, provides homework assistance and character education activities. Approximately 4,500 students per year register to participate in UPLINK.
The legislature further finds that current funding for UPLINK is $2,400,000 with $2,265,000 allocated directly to the schools based on size of program, location, and transportation needs. While the department of human services has authorized fifteen per cent of the original amount of funding for administrative costs, in the last three years the administrators have decreased the administrative portion of funding to less than ten per cent and to five per cent this year. Any leftover funds are designated to the schools and program improvements.
To date, UPLINK has been administered by one department of education administrator and one part-time monitoring clerk, who work directly with the schools. They are currently responsible for the evaluation of grant proposals, collection of semester and summer data reports, handling of all inquiries from the schools, planning of program improvement, coordination of program activities, disbursement of funds, and communication with other department of education mandates related to the program. If UPLINK is expanded to include more schools, it would require a larger staff.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for non-school hour positive youth programs, an UPLINK administrator in the department of education, and other UPLINK staffing needs.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act; provided that the department of human services shall transfer funds to the department of education for the UPLINK administrator and other UPLINK staffing needs pursuant to a memorandum of agreement.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.
Report Title:
Non-school Hour Positive Youth Programs; UPLINK; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to be expended by the department of human services for non-school hour positive youth programs, an UPLINK administrator in the department of education, and other UPLINK staffing needs. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
