Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 233 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for a new Children's Justice Center on Oahu.

The Judiciary, Kapiolani Child Protection Center, and several concerned citizens testified in support of this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the Children's Justice Center (Center) program within the Judiciary has provided a much-needed service to children who have been abused. The Program provides an umbrella for all of the agencies that handle cases of physical and sexual abuse towards children. A new building would allow all of the agencies to be housed in one location, allowing services to be coordinated.

In addition to improved efficiency and convenience for the victims and their families, a central location would also provide future cost-savings for the State. Most Felix-class children that are sent to expensive mainland treatment facilities have a history of sexual abuse. A new Center will enable children and families to enter counseling immediately thereby preventing delays in services.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 233, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 233, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.