Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2144 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for a youth summit, wherein Hawaii's youth can have a forum to discuss issues of importance to them and allow them to play an active role in improving the living conditions of the young citizens of Hawaii.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services (department) and Hawaii Youth Services Network.

Your Committee finds that young people can be a partner in efforts to solve community problems and using them as a resource can make our solutions more effective. A summit for youth to participate in shaping the community in which they live supports the philosophy of the department's Office of Youth Services. Hawaii's youth needs a platform to ensure that their interests are represented and this summit can provide them a forum to voice their opinions of community needs and solutions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2144 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.