STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3308

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2037

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2037, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROJECT KEALAHOU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health for the continued funding of Project Kealahou.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health; the Judiciary; Project Kealahou; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Community Alliance on Prisons; Mental Health America of Hawaii; YWCA of Oahu; and twenty-seven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Project Kealahou has proven to be an effective treatment program for young females who have experienced trauma or victimization, by providing valuable mentoring and support services to young females and their families.  These services have not only helped young women cope with traumatic experiences but have also allowed other support service programs and professionals to develop similar services in their treatment plans.  Your Committee further finds that an appropriation is needed to ensure the continued success of this program and help expand the services of Project Kealahou to other areas of Oahu and the neighbor islands.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to facilitate 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 H.B. No. 2037, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2037, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair