STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2773

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2189

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2189 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Commission on Fatherhood.

Your Committee finds that Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, established the Commission on Fatherhood to promote healthy family relationships between parents and children. The Commission has since developed goals and objectives to:

(1) Complete a statewide analysis of service provision to fathers;

(2) Develop policy recommendations on best practices for serving fathers via state agencies;

(3) Recommend legislation that facilitates the involvement of fathers in the lives of children;

(4) Issue an annual report on the status of fatherhood issues in Hawaii;

(5) Operate public awareness campaigns about the importance of involving fathers in the lives of children;

(6) Provide information and resources related to effective fathering and the parenting support;

(7) Present the annual Parent-Friendly Business Award; and

(8) Administer appropriated funds and award grants to deserving organizations.

This measure would provide the necessary funds to allow the Commission to hire an executive director and staff to accomplish its goals and objectives.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount for the purpose of furthering discussion; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2189, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2189, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair