STAND. COM. REP. NO. 815

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 391

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 391, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a pilot program to coordinate a network that youth may access for safety and to obtain advice, guidance, programs, and services.

More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Requires the Office of Youth Services to coordinate a two-year safe places for youth pilot program; and

(2)  Appropriates $250,000 for a safe place for youth program coordinator, residential options for the pilot program, and behavioral health counseling and education.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Youth Services, Hale Opio Kauai Inc., and Hawaii Youth Services Network.

     Your Committee finds that ensuring the safety and welfare of the State's youth is of the utmost importance and that the safe places for youth pilot program will provide youth who are in need of shelter and support with safe shelters, counseling, and guidance programs and services.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 391, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 391, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair