REPORT TITLE:
Children's law center


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds for a children's law center. (HB1574 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1574
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a lack of legal
 
 2 resources for children exist.  Examples of injustice include:
 
 3      (1)  A denial of services for children that have been
 
 4           requested by family court judges due to a lack of funds
 
 5           or service providers;
 
 6      (2)  Teen parents who are unable to obtain housing or health
 
 7           care because they are minors; and
 
 8      (3)  Child victims of violent crimes who testify in court
 
 9           without representation.
 
10      The legal rights of Hawaii's children need to be addressed
 
11 to help them receive the services and care they are entitled and
 
12 for which are critical toward becoming contributing and healthy
 
13 citizens.
 
14      The legislature finds that a children's law center is a
 
15 solution to ensure that children's rights are protected.  A
 
16 children's law center would:
 
17      (1)  Focus exclusively on the legal needs and the rights of
 
18           children;
 
19      (2)  Ensure that children have a voice in the judicial and
 
20           administrative process, and in the legislative arena;
 

 
Page 2                                                     1574
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (3)  Use a holistic approach to resolving problems by
 
 2           working with parents and other support services
 
 3           throughout the process of legally representing
 
 4           children;
 
 5      (4)  Divert children from the criminal justice system by
 
 6           offering solutions to their problems and choices for
 
 7           the future;
 
 8      (5)  Ensure that children's rights are protected, including
 
 9           the right to be housed, educated, supported, and to
 
10           live free of violence; and
 
11      (6)  Be a public-private partnership of legal representation
 
12           and advocacy for children.
 
13      The purpose of this Act is to provide funds to the office of
 
14 community services to implement a children's law center.
 
15      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
16 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof
 
17 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 to implement a
 
18 children's law center.
 
19      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
20 department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of
 
21 this Act.
 
22      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.