STAND. COM. REP. NO. 939
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1170
S.D. 1
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. 1170, 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 appropriate or authorize temporary assistance for needy families funds for the Healthy Start Program, including Enhanced Healthy Start, to address budget shortfalls and implement recommended program improvements.
Specifically, the measure provides funds to hire a child development or clinical specialist and to complement provider training.
Catholic Charities Hawaii and Parents and Children Together submitted comments in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Family Support Institute, and Maui Family Support Services submitted comments.
Your Committee finds that the Healthy Start Program has been a resource for Hawaii's families by providing voluntary home visits to promote healthy child development and provide services to families identified as at risk for child abuse and neglect. The Enhanced Healthy Start Program was later established to serve entire families at threatened harm levels of risk, as well as infants and toddlers subject to abuse or neglect.
Your Committee further finds that an appropriation will allow the Healthy Start Program to make programmatic changes that will substantially increase its ability to make positive changes in the lives of many children and their families.
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. 1170, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair |
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