Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 21 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Departments of Human Services (DHS), Health, and Labor and Industrial Relations to:

Hawaii Youth Services Network and Hale 'Opio Kaua'i, Inc., testified in support of this measure. DHS supported the intent, but does not believe a resolution is necessary. A concerned citizen submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that children in foster care often have a disability or are emotionally disturbed. In addition, approximately 27 percent of all homeless individuals were at one time in some form of foster, group, or institutional care. Once foster care youths turn eighteen, they are no longer eligible for foster care, and often do not have any means of support.

Your Committee believes that transitional living programs for foster care youths need to be examined and expanded if the findings conclude that many foster youths need transitional services and may potentially be homeless after foster care ends.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 21 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.