STAND. COM. REP. NO. 590

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 248

       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 Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 248 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the State Commission on Fatherhood to hire an executive director and staff.

     The State Commission on Fatherhood, the Children's Rights Council, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that an executive director and staffed office will provide a key point of contact that can work with policymakers, state agencies, and the public on fatherhood issues.  According to the testimony, the staff will also enable the State Commission on Fatherhood to successfully accomplish its strategic plan, including the publication of an annual report on the status of fatherhood issues in Hawaii.

     It is your Committee's intent to support the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 248, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair