STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2990

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1716

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1716, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

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

(2) Appropriate funds to the Office of Youth Services to staff and administer the Youth Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Youth Services, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Young Progressives Demanding Action - Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities for the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that increasing youth participation in the public policymaking process is a vital state interest. Your Committee further finds that although youth under the age of eighteen may not vote, they deserve access and input through other means, such as a Youth Commission, to have a greater role in the policymaking process.

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. 1716, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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JOSH GREEN, Chair