Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 87 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to re-establish the family center demonstration project, which was formerly established under Act 329, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990.

Your Committees find that family support centers are an invaluable asset to and play a vital role by providing a "safety net" for families. Families can turn to family support centers when they require assistance without having to obtain various services from a myriad of offices and agencies.

Furthermore, your Committees find that family support centers play an integral part in helping families survive difficult times and in many instances can even prevent the breakup of these families. Without family support centers, many families would suffer through dysfunction and homelessness, and are far more likely to turn to illegal means for survival.

The Pacific Gateway Center, Palama Settlement, the Good Beginnings Alliance, the Community in Schools-Hi Project of the YMCA, the Kuhio Homes Resident Association, the Urban Management Corporation, and several private citizens and citizens groups supported this bill. The Department of Human Services (DHS) supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committees find that the family center demonstration project is a worthwhile and valuable asset to the community it serves. Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 87, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 87, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.