STAND. COM. REP. NO. 263
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1110
S.D. 1
Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui
President of the Senate
Twenty-Sixth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2011
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1110 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOSTER YOUTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to develop and administer a program to assist former foster youth with housing options upon aging out of the foster care system and to appropriate funds to develop and administer a housing assistance program for former foster youth.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, Hawaii Family Forum, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Services.
Your Committee finds that thirty percent of youth who age out of foster care at eighteen years of age become homeless before they reach the age of twenty-one and that many former foster youth need assistance in locating affordable housing, negotiating with landlords, and managing their budgets. This measure would provide assistance to Hawaii's former foster youth who have trouble accessing housing and improving their quality of life.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1110, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1110, 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,
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____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair |
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