STAND. COM. REP. NO. 599

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 999

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 S.B. No. 999 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the operating costs of the Family Celebration Commission.

     The Hawaii Family Forum and the Ohana Project submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     House Concurrent Resolution No. 269 (2006), requested the Governor to designate and celebrate 2008 as the Year of the Family, and to establish a Family Celebration Commission to administer the celebration.  The Family Celebration Commission is responsible for developing, planning, and coordinating various programs and activities throughout 2008 in celebration of the family.  Your Committee finds that a celebration to honor the importance of family, and to sustain and nurture family life, is appropriate.

     This measure will appropriate funds for the operating costs of the Family Celebration Commission.

     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. 999 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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