STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2343

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2211

       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 Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2211 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 five-year safe places for youth pilot program that will coordinate a network of safe places where youth can access safety and obtain advice, guidance, programs, and services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Youth Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Partners in Care, Institute for Human Services, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Hale Kipa, Community Alliance for Mental Health, Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Interagency on Homelessness, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Association for Justice.

     Your Committee finds that, without safe places, Hawaii's youth who run away from violent homes or intolerable bullying at school are vulnerable and may be victimized by predatory adults who lure them into alcohol and substance abuse or prostitution.  At the 2012 Children and Youth Summit, youth expressed that one of their highest priorities is to address the lack of safe places where they can have fun without the fear of being harassed, bullied, or pressured by other youth or adults.  The youth expressed interest in being able to access youth-specific guidance and services, including counseling for suicide prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, tobacco cessation, and alcohol and substance abuse support.

     Your Committee has heard the testimony of the Hawaii Association for Justice expressing concern that this measure does not encourage responsible behavior because it absolves providers who provide services to youth in safe places from liability for negligent acts.  In response, the Office of Youth Services testified that it requires all providers of youth services to have extended liability insurance.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that a provider's determination to provide services to a consenting minor after assessment is a determination that the minor does not pose a danger to the minor's self or to other persons at the safe place;

     (2)  Adding language requiring that a minor be at least fourteen years of age to consent to the provider and related services at a safe place;

     (3)  Amending the definition of "minor" or "youth" to mean a person less than eighteen years of age; and

     (4)  Defining "young adult" to mean a person less than twenty-one years of age.

     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. 2211, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2211, 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