STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1878

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1170

      S.D. 1

      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 Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1170, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate or authorize Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for the Healthy Start program, including Enhanced Healthy Start, to hire a child development specialist or clinical specialist and for provider training.

     The Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, Catholic Charities Hawaii's Ka Malama Punua, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Good Beginnings Alliance supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Human Services and Department of Health provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the appropriation amount to encourage further discussion;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1170, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1170, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair