STAND. COM. REP. NO.  169

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1512

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1512 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WEED AND SEED STRATEGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a permanent Weed and Seed Strategy Program in the Office of Community Services and to provide an appropriation to maintain the Weed and Seed strategy and expand it into other areas of the State.

     The Office of Community Services in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, The Gentry Companies, the Director of Honolulu Weed and Seed, and numerous individuals supported this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the Weed and Seed strategy program is a collaborative effort involving law enforcement, residents, nonprofit organizations, social service agencies, community groups and private businesses, and has substantially reduced drug-related crimes by "weeding out" large drug dealers and "seeding" programs to help families and youth with building the lifestyle they envision for their neighborhoods.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1512 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair