STAND. COM. REP. NO. 231

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1574
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Labor and
Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1574 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF
     CHILDREN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that children's rights
are protected by appropriating funds to implement a children's
law center to represent the unique legal needs of Hawaii's
children.

     Child and Parent Advocates, the Protection and Advocacy
Agency of Hawaii, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Hawaii Lawyers Care,
Child and Family Service, the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition,
and one individual submitted testimony in support of this
measure.  The Office of Community Services submitted testimony in
support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committees find that there is no single legal service
provider offering legal assistance exclusively to children.  A
children's law center would serve a crucial role in ensuring that
children, particularly those without financial and other
resources, receive the legal assistance they need and have a
voice in their own welfare.

     Your Committees believe that it is paramount that
collaboration continue between the public and private sectors to
implement and fund the law center.

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 231
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the children's law center would work
          with parents and other support services throughout the
          process of legally representing children;

     (2)  Replacing the appropriation with $1 for the purpose of
          further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Human Services and Housing and Labor and Public
Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees are
in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1574, as
amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the
form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1574, H.D. 1, and be referred to
the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Human Services
                                   and Housing and Labor and
                                   Public Employment,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
TERRY NUI YOSHINAGA, Chair         DENNIS ARAKAKI, Chair