STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2765

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3235

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3235 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the response of state and county agencies to the unmet needs of homeless youth in the State.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes within the Department of Human Services a Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program that requires:

(A) Inter-agency collaboration among all departments of the State and counties that offer certain services to youth to provide safe spaces in each county for youth experiencing homelessness; and

(B) The Department of Human Services to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations for placement of homeless youth in shelters that provide overnight lodging, supervision, and support services;

(2) Requires the Department of Human Services to submit a report to the Legislature on pilot program activities, accomplishments, and other specified information; and

(3) Appropriates moneys for the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, Opportunity Youth Action Hui, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the pilot program established by 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 has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair