Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1429 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Commission on Fatherhood (Commission) to implement programs, services, and contracts that promote healthy family relationships between parents and children that are father-friendly.

The Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Hawaii Coalition for Dads, Parents and Children Together, and Blueprint for Change testified in support of this measure. The Office of Youth Services supported the intent of this measure. The Office of the Governor, Attorney General, Judiciary, and Office of Information Practices offered comments.

Your Committee finds that children develop better socially and physically when fathers are involved in raising them. The Commission would play a key role in promoting healthy family relationships between parents and children to create positive environments for children.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 1429, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1429, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.