Report Title:

University of Hawaii School of Social Work; Natural Disasters

Description:

Appropriates funds for the continuation and expansion of the University of Hawaii school of social work's long-term case management training program for victims of major natural disasters.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1720
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO continuE and expanD the University of Hawaii school of social work's long-term case management training program for victims of major natural disasters.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that as a result of the number of major natural disasters that have occurred globally in the past year and the difficulties that arose in providing a swift, appropriate, and effective response to the victims of those events, the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency began to identify gaps in its response system.  Among other things, the Federal Emergency Management Agency noted that recovery from major natural disasters takes much longer than anyone had ever anticipated.  Further, there is virtually no established system that provides long-term case management services to victims that identifies the on-going needs of the affected communities and develops, coordinates, and distributes resources to meet those needs.

     Through an arrangement with Catholic Charities United States of America, short-term funding was awarded in 2006 to the University of Hawaii school of social work for a demonstration project that would develop and implement a training program and curriculum for local social service providers.  The project staff also worked with other service providers in the area of disaster relief to develop a more coordinated case management response to natural disasters occurring locally.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the continuation and expansion of the University of Hawaii school of social work's long-term case management training program for victims of major natural disasters.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $160,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 to continue operation of the University of Hawaii's school of social work's long-term case management training program for victims of major natural disasters and to expand the program from Oahu to University of Hawaii community college campuses on the neighbor islands, particularly Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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