HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

178

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study of hawaii's laws affecting at-risk youth.

 

 

WHEREAS, every day in Hawaii, there are teenagers living on the streets, running away from foster care and abusive household situations, and confronting adult issues, who are unable to legally gain shelter; and

WHEREAS, teenage parents are currently unable to legally make decisions for and seek custody of their children; and

WHEREAS, current law only allows for emancipation of a person under the age of 18 upon marriage; and

WHEREAS, the State has a vital interest in ensuring that there are legal mechanisms available to protect youth from prostitution, sexual predators, and abuse, and to provide necessary safety net services to prevent teenagers from "falling through the cracks"; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) is requested to conduct a study of Hawaii's laws affecting at-risk youth under the age of 18 and to recommend appropriate statutory changes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include:

(1) An evaluation of the efficacy of Hawaii's laws governing youth rights, including those governing emancipation, custody by minor parents, access to shelters by runaways, and access to public benefits;

(2) An examination of other states' laws for comparison with Hawaii's laws governing youth rights; and

(3) An assessment of the current problems facing at-risk youth;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the lead judge of the Family Court in each circuit, Director of Human Services, Director of Health, Superintendent of Education, and Attorney General are requested to cooperate with LRB in its investigation and study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB is requested to convene a working group of youth advocate stakeholders and representatives of public interest groups, including but not limited to Hale Kipa, Waikiki Health Center, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Na Keiki Law Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Blueprint for Change, and GirlFest to collaborate in the investigation and study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB is requested to report to the Legislature its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than 30 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the lead judge of the Family Court in each circuit, Director of Human Services, Director of Health, Superintendent of Education, Attorney General, and Acting Director of LRB.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

At-risk Youth; LRB Study