STAND. COM. REP. NO. 45

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 391

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 391 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Office of Youth Services to coordinate a two-year safe places for youth pilot program, which will coordinate a network of safe places where youth can access safety and obtain advice, guidance, programs, and services; and

     (2)  Establish and appropriate funds for the position of safe places for youth program coordinator.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Office of Youth Services; Hale Opio Kauai, Inc.; Community Alliance for Mental Health; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Planned Parenthood of Hawaii; Blueprint for Change; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is one of the safest and healthiest places in the nation for children and youth.  However, many of Hawaii's youth are not immune to daily threats to their health and safety.  Every year, youth run away from homes where abuse, neglect, and domestic violence are commonplace, or from schools where intolerable bullying becomes a major barrier to educational achievement.  Without access to safe places, youth in these situations are vulnerable and may be victimized by predatory adults who lure them into consuming alcohol, substance abuse, or prostitution.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including behavioral health counseling and education among the services and programs to be provided by the safe places for youth pilot program; and

     (2)  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. 391, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 391, 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,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair