STAND. COM. REP. NO.  718

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1720

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1720 entitled:

"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,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist in the identification of the ongoing needs of communities affected by natural disasters, and the development, coordination, and distribution of resources to meet those needs, by appropriating funds for the continuation and expansion of the University of Hawaii (UH) School of Social Work's long-term case management training program (Program) for victims of major natural disasters.

     The National Association of Social Workers-Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Defense, UH, and several concerned individuals supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committees note that currently, there is no federal funding for the Program, and a request for funding has not been submitted for inclusion in UH's biennium budget request because the Program is still in its early stages.  Your Committees encourage the UH School of Social Work to pursue these avenues of funding for the Program, and also suggest that funding be sought from the National Association of Social Workers.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this bill by requiring the Program to submit to the Legislature, prior to the Regular Session of 2008, a report on the status and progress of its operation and expansion efforts, including efforts to pursue alternative sources of funding.

     Your Committees have further amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount to $1 to encourage               further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety & Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1720, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1720, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair