Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2071 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the role of fathers in children's lives by appropriating $122,000 to the State Commission on Fatherhood (Commission) to fulfill its duties.

The Commission and Family Support Services of West Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services provided comments.

Your Committee finds that the recently established Commission is currently operating on a volunteer basis. As a result, the Commission is primarily staffed by working fathers who are in need of resources to enhance and improve its services. Funds appropriated to the Commission may also be used to leverage funds from other sources.

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 H.B. No. 2071 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.