STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2017

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2008

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2008 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to increase outreach and provide shelter and services to unaccompanied homeless youth.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Office of Youth Services, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Partners in Care, The Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Residential Youth Services & Empowerment, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Oahu County Committee Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Domestic Violence Action Center, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, League of Women Voters, Americans for Democratic Action, Rainbow Family 808, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, and twenty-one individuals.

Your Committees find that addressing the needs and concerns of unaccompanied homeless youth is a statewide challenge. Your Committees further find that addressing youth homelessness requires a multi-faceted approach, and outreach and shelter are critical components to assisting this underserved population.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting findings discussing the recent crimes in Waikiki involving homeless youth and inserting language discussing the challenges unaccompanied homeless youth encounter living on their own;

(2) Increasing the appropriation amount to $500,000; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2008, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2008, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing,

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair