STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1020

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1101

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1101, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys to the kokua na keiki special fund and to create a task force to coordinate resources for homeless children.

     The Department of Education, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Family Forum of the Roman Catholic Church submitted comments in support.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments in opposition.  The Office of the Attorney General submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the number of homeless children has increased dramatically.  Homelessness often affects children disproportionately, putting them at risk of developing poor health, exposure to sexual abuse or other violence, poor academic performance, and a lack of positive social interactions.  Your Committee finds that a coordinated effort will help to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of these children.

     Your Committee amended the bill to address the concerns raised by the Attorney General to:

     (1)  Include standards that permit the Department of Human Services to award grants; and

     (2)  Specify that the finds in the kokua na keiki special fund be used to hire a coordinator of services for homeless children.

     Your Committee also amended this bill to:

     (1)  Change the appropriations to unspecified amounts to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  Change the repeal date for the Act to June 30, 2011, to provide sufficient time for the Department of Human Services to submit its final report.

     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. 1101, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1101, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair