STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1280

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1043

       H.D. 2

       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 H.B. No. 1043, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a task force to coordinate resources for homeless children, and to establish and appropriate funds to a special fund.

     The Department of Education, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, the Hawaii Youth Services Network, the Institute for Human Services, and one individual submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  Catholic Charities Hawai‘i submitted comments.

     Your Committee 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.  This measure will minimize the negative impact of homelessness on children by establishing a task force to coordinate resources to benefit children who are homeless.

     It is the Committee's intent to try to reduce the risk and impact of homelessness on children.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style, including adding language to the effective date of July 1, 2020, to note that the entire measure shall be repealed on June 30, 2011; provided that sections 5 and 6 shall take effect on July 1, 2020.  This will ensure that the task force and the special fund cease to exist on the same date.

     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 H.B. No. 1043, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1043, H.D. 2, 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