STAND. COM. REP. NO.  381-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3303

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 3303 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HAWAII COUNTY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist Marshallese immigrants on the Big Island in dire need of help by appropriating funds for the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council (Council) to provide them with a range of employment, educational, social, and transportation services.

     The Council testified in support of this bill.

     Many recently-arrived Marshallese live in poverty and lack the educational, economic, and social means to improve their condition and access available services.  This bill enables the Council to provide a range of important services, including:

     (1)  Employment core services;

     (2)  A dropout prevention program for at-risk students;

     (3)  A language arts multicultural program to raise the academic achievement of elementary school students; and

     (4)  A head start home-based program for preschool children.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3303 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair