STAND. COM. REP. NO. 537-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1716

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1716 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support and empower youth participation in public policymaking decisions by:

(1) Establishing a Youth Commission within the Office of Youth Services to advise the Governor and Legislature on policies affecting youth in the State; and

(2) Appropriating funds to staff and administer the Youth Commission.

The Office of Youth Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance on Prisons, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Young Progressives Demanding Action Hawaii, and three concerned individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee notes that the issues that youth face are fast-moving and complex. Your Committee finds that many issues facing our youth are difficult to address because of the different perspectives of the many State agencies, the uncertainty of funding, and the diverse life experiences of people within the ages of fourteen to twenty-four. Your Committee also notes that testimony expressed that the Commission may be better able to represent the issues affecting the youth if some members have experience with the juvenile justice or foster care systems. Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider whether proposed funding is sufficient to cover expenses or if more funding and positions may be required.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1716, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1716, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair