STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1706-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.R. No. 126

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.R. No. 126 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONVENE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE HAWAII LEGAL AID INTERAGENCY ROUNDTABLE TO BETTER SERVE LOW-INCOME, VULNERABLE, AND AT-RISK POPULATIONS AND INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate cooperation between State agencies in order to provide underserved and vulnerable populations in Hawaii with access to legal services and justice by:

(1) Urging the Director of Human Services and the Attorney General to convene, and serve as co-chairs of, a Hawaii Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (Roundtable) consisting of various stakeholders to examine the barriers in accessing legal assistance in Hawaii;

(2) Requesting that the Roundtable submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature regarding any advancement in providing access to legal assistance to underserved and vulnerable populations; and

(3) Requesting that the Roundtable submit a report by January 1, 2020, on the economic impact of funding access to civil legal services.

The Judiciary supported this measure. The Department of the Attorney General and Department of Human Services offered comments for this measure.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 126 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair