STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1378-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3111

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 3111, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and fund a five-year Family Resource Centers Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services and fund one full-time equivalent Family Resource Centers Coordinator position to further develop and implement a statewide network of school- and community-based family resource centers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School, Kailua High School, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, ‘Ohana Support Network, Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance, Community Alliance on Prisons, Blueprint for Change, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that family resource centers play a critical role in preventing child abuse and neglect, strengthening children and families, connecting family-impacting agencies and programs, creating opportunities for community-level coordination, creating social connections to resources and support systems, and increasing family engagement, all of which lead to greater student success in school.

Your Committee further finds that various studies have found that communities with family resource centers show lower rates of child abuse and neglect investigations, lower numbers of children entering foster care, and an increase in parents or custodians gaining employment within one year after participating in services provided through the centers. This measure establishes a five-year Family Resource Centers Pilot Program, which will allow the Departments of Human Services, Education, and Health to provide coordinated family-impacting services designed to meet the needs, cultures, and interests of communities serviced by family resource centers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language exempting the Family Resource Centers Coordinator from civil service requirements;

(2) Requiring that all contracts entered into by the Departments of Human Services, Education, and Health for family resource centers be subject to the Hawaii Public Procurement Code and procurement requirements for purchases of health and human services;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3111, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3111, S.D. 2, 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, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair