STAND. COM. REP. NO. 852

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 249

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. 249 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make the State Commission on Fatherhood permanent by repealing the sunset date.

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

     Your Committee finds that making the State Commission on Fatherhood permanent will enable it to continue to, among other things, develop and advocate for legislation that facilitates fathers' involvement in the lives of their children, report on the status of fatherhood issues in Hawaii, and provide information and resources to the public on effective fathering and parenting support services available to families, particularly fathers.

     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. 249 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair