STAND. COM. REP. NO. 310-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 537
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 537, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide homeless children the
preschool education they deserve by appropriating funds to the
Homeless Assistance Division of the Housing and Community
Development Corporation of Hawaii (Corporation) to establish
preschool programs for homeless families.

     The Institute for Human Services, the Hawaii Catholic
Conference, the Good Beginnings Alliance, the Affordable Housing
and Homeless Alliance, and several individuals testified in
support of this measure.  The Corporation testified in support of
the intent of this measure, provided that it does not replace or
adversely impact priorities in the State's Executive Supplemental
Budget.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help children of
homeless families receive the much-needed assistance to succeed.
An investment in these children now would be a significant
savings in special needs later.


 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 310-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Encouraging the Corporation to collaborate with the
          Departments of Human Services and Health and Head Start
          to:

          (A)  Develop funding and program alternatives for
               preschool programs for homeless families; and

          (B)  Consider mobile preschool programs (non-shelter
               based) and family home care;

     and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 537, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
537, H.D. 2, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair