CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 158-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3235

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3235, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFE SPACES FOR YOUTH PILOT PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an inter-agency Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services to provide safe spaces in each county for youth experiencing homelessness.

Your Committee on Conference finds that runaway and homeless youth are vulnerable to multiple risks, including lack of basic food and shelter, untreated mental health disorders, substance use, disruptions in their education, sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection, sexual exploitation, physical victimization, and suicide. Your Committee on Conference believes that the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program established under this measure will provide an additional means of addressing the unmet needs of homeless youth through a coordinated inter-agency effort involving the state and county agencies responsible for the State's child welfare, education, health, human services, and juvenile justice systems.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $600,000 for the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program;

(2) Clarifying that the appropriation includes funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position and administrative costs for the pilot program; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3235, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3235, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ ADRIAN K. TAM Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair