STAND. COM. REP. NO. 209

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1220

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1220 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Youth Advisory Commission to advise the Governor and Legislature on the effects of legislative policies, needs, assessments, priorities, programs, and budgets concerning the youth of the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Youth Services; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.; Honolulu Chinese Jaycees; and seven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that increasing youth participation in the public policymaking process is in the best interest of the State, as Hawaii has the lowest voter participation rate in the United States.  Although young people aged sixteen and seventeen may work and pay taxes, they are denied a formal role in the political process because they are prohibited from voting.  Establishing a Youth Advisory Commission could enable greater interest in policymaking for youth and provide valuable input on issues affecting young people.

     Your Committee notes that the intent of the establishment and purpose of the Youth Advisory Commission is to also coincide with the mission of the Office of Youth Services in supporting at-risk youth and their families.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a preamble that discusses the importance of youth participation in public policymaking;

     (2)  Specifying that one member appointed by the Governor to the Youth Advisory Commission must be a previous recipient of youth services;

     (3)  Expanding the list of criteria to be considered by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives when making appointments to the Youth Advisory Commission;

     (4)  Allowing the Youth Advisory Commission members to invite other individuals to participate in commission activities as temporary, nonvoting members;

     (5)  Inserting language that appropriates an unspecified amount for the hiring of one staff position to administer the Youth Advisory Commission;

     (6)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2017; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 1220, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1220, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair