Honolulu, Hawaii
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2349 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH TRANSITIONING FROM FOSTER CARE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Clarify the payment framework and duration of higher education stipends;
(2) Afford former foster youth a longer timeline to access higher education by extending from age 22 to age 26, the age limit applicable to former foster youth who are applying for a higher education stipend;
(3) Specify that financial assistance available to Hawaii's former foster youth encompasses all related higher education costs, rather than just room and board costs;
(4) Clarify that the higher education stipend amount is based on the financial support the Department of Human Resources (DHS) provides in accordance with rules adopted by the DHS;
(5) Clarify the eligibility and program requirements of the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care Program; and
(6) Repeal the requirement that DHS submit an annual report to the legislature.
DHS; Family Programs Hawaii; Hawaii Youth Services Network; EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.; and several individuals testified in support of this measure.
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 H.B. No. 2349 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,
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DEE MORIKAWA, Chair |
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