HB1043

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that children, particularly young children, are the most vulnerable during, and at times victimized by, homelessness. While many children develop some resiliency to their situation and are able to overcome the ravages of homelessness, the deficits of homelessness often lead to poor health, exposure to violence, poor academic performance, and a lack of positive social interactions.

The purpose of this Act is to minimize the negative impact of homelessness on children by establishing a task force to coordinate resources to benefit children who are homeless.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a task force to coordinate public and private resources to benefit homeless children.

(b) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall convene the task force. The task force shall:

(1) Be co-chaired by the chair of the senate human services and public housing committee and the chair of the house human services and housing committee; and

(2) Include:

(A) The superintendent of education or the superintendent of education's designee;

(B) The director of health or the director of health's designee;

(D) Four members representing the four counties appointed by the mayor of each county;

(E) Four members representing not-for-profit organizations that serve Hawaii's homeless families, two appointed by the president of the senate and two appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(F) The chairs of the senate and house education committees; and

(G) The chairs of the senate and house health committees.

(c) The task force shall establish findings and develop recommendations on how the State can coordinate public and private resources to benefit homeless children.

(d) The task force shall submit an interim report, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, and shall submit a final report, including its findings and recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2011 regular session.

SECTION 3. (a) There is established within the state treasury the kokua na keiki special fund to be administered and expended by the department of human services, and into which shall be deposited:

(1) Appropriations made by the legislature into the fund; and

(2) Any contributions by private entities.

(b) The moneys in the special fund shall be used by the department of human services to:

(1) Establish and hire a homelessness coordinator position; and

(2) Establish and hire one support staff position to assist the homelessness coordinator.

(c) The moneys in the special fund may also be used by the department of human services to provide grants for innovative programs that benefit homeless children or that help coordinate services for the benefit of homeless children.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $750,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to be paid into the kokua na keiki special fund.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the kokua na keiki special fund the sum of $750,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the purpose described in section 3.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval

and shall be repealed on June 30, 2010; provided that sections 4 and 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1043
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII