STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1371

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 135

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE CONCEPT OF ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF JUVENILE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT CENTERS, AS EMBODIED BY THE PROPOSED PILOT BIG ISLAND JUVENILE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, THROUGHOUT THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to assist in the provision of safety and supervisory services for delinquent and at-risk youth in an integrated and cost-effective manner by expressing the Legislature's support of the proposed pilot Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center.

     The Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Prosecuting Attorney for Hawaii County, and the Mayor of Hawaii County supported this concurrent resolution.

     House Concurrent Resolution No. 250 (2006) requested the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of receiving homes in East and West Hawaii to coordinate intake procedures and service delivery in a streamlined and cost-effective manner.  In response, the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney issued its "Report on the Feasibility of Establishing Receiving Homes in East and West Hawaii County," proposing the Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, which would provide a critically needed single point of entry for the intake, assessment, and case management of delinquent and at-risk youth.

     While it is clear that the current fiscal climate excludes the possibility of immediately funding this pilot program, your Committee emphasizes that the Legislature's affirmation of the program's merits and its benefits for Hawaii's communities will provide Hawaii County with a powerful tool to attract new partners and independently secure sources of funding that may not otherwise be available.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 135 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair