STAND. COM. REP. NO.  706-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1697

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1697, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide safe places where youth can seek shelter from harmful environments and access advice, guidance, programs, and services by:

     (1)  Establishing the five year Safe Places for Youth Pilot Program;

     (2)  Establishing the Youth Program Coordinator position; and

     (3)  Appropriating an unspecified amount to establish the Youth Program Coordinator position and provide residential options for the Pilot Program.

PHOCUSED, Partners in Care, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance for Mental Health, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, IMUAlliance, Hawaii Association for Justice, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Youth Services provided comments on 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 H.B. No. 1697, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair