STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1336-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2481

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2481, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH CRISIS CENTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Youth Crisis Center Branch, to be headed by the Youth Crisis Center Branch Administrator, within the Office of Youth Services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and Opportunity Youth Action Hui. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

Your Committee finds that the establishment of a framework of institutionalized youth crisis centers is essential to servicing youth at-risk or in crisis. Youth crisis centers are necessary to provide emergency shelter and crisis intervention services to Hawaii's most vulnerable youth. The establishment of a Youth Crisis Center Branch as provided by this measure will ensure that these youth have access to the services and temporary shelter they need.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Should your Committee on Finance hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating funds for additional staff and resources to the Office of Youth Services to accomplish the objectives of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2481, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2481, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair