STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1428

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1340

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1340, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOSTER CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide support for foster youth in the transition to adulthood and in becoming independent and self-sufficient adults by, among other things:

(1)  Establishing the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care Program to care for and assist eligible foster youth between the ages of 18 and 21;

(2)  Requiring the Department of Human Services to submit an annual report to the Legislature prior to each regular session on the status, efficacy, and other relevant information regarding the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care Program; and

(3)  Appropriating funds to the Department of Human Services for the purposes of this measure.

The Judiciary; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Human Services; Family Programs Hawaii; Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative; EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Hawaii Women's Coalition; HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Boards of East Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, and West Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative; and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1340, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair