STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1753

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.C.R. No. 189

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 189 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OUTREACH SERVICES TO HOMELESS CHILDREN IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop programs and provide services to assist homeless children.

     The Waikiki Health Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this concurrent resolution.  The State Homeless Programs Branch of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority supported the intent of this measure.  Waianae Community Outreach supported this concurrent resolution with amendments.  Several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committees have amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Changing its title to, "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OUTREACH SERVICES TO HOMELESS INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH IN HAWAII";

     (2)  Ensuring that the request is for Hawaii's children of all ages to be covered by additional outreach services, including homeless infants and youth;

     (3)  Clarifying that the Department of Education (DOE) is also requested to develop programs and services for homeless children;

     (4)  Removing names of specific agencies that DHS is requested to provide financial assistance to;

     (5)  Adding transportation as a basic service that should be provided to homeless children;

     (6)  Requesting DHS to offer a plan to increase funding for parent participation programs and training;

     (7)  Requesting DHS to coordinate the efforts of the Interagency Council on Homelessness with the Interdepartmental Council for Early Childhood Education;

     (8)  Requiring DHS and DOE to submit an implementation plan to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     (9)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 189, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 189, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Education,

____________________________ LYLA B. BERG, Ph.D., Acting Chair and Vice Chair

____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Acting Chair and Vice Chair