STAND. COM. REP. NO.  125

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 395

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 395 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide a haven for Hawaii's youth that ensures their safety and health by, among other things:

 

(1)  Requiring the Office of Youth Services to coordinate a five-year safe places for youth pilot program;

 

(2)  Establishing the position of coordinator for the pilot program and specifying the coordinator's duties and responsibilities;

 

(3)  Developing and establishing a framework which allows youth under the age of eighteen to consent to accept services from the pilot program; and

 

(4)  Appropriating funds for the coordinator position and residential options for the pilot program.

 

     The Office of Youth Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hale Kipa, Blueprint for Change, PHOCUSED, Planned Parenthood, and a few concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Two concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the amount appropriated for the pilot program coordinator position and temporary housing options for youth in crisis to an unspecified amount;

 

     (2)  Making the effective date July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Human Services respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $53,000 for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 to the Office of Youth Services pilot program.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 395, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 395, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair