STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2148

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2246

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2246 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD ALLOWANCE FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to extend the time period for which former foster youth may be eligible for a higher education board allowance.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Youth Services Network.  Oral testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services, and three individuals from the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition.

     Your Committee finds that this measure would provide a much needed benefit for former foster youth, and that, in the words of one of the members of the Committee, this measure represents a "hand up, not a hand out".  Your Committee was moved in particular by the testimony given by the three individuals from the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, all of whom are former foster youth.  Your Committee notes that the Department of Human Services indicated a preference for the language of H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, which was introduced in the Regular Session of 2007, and that, as the higher education board allowance could be covered by its existing budget, no appropriations are necessary.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting the language from H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, into this measure and removing the appropriation; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     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 S.B. No. 2246, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2246, 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