STAND. COM. REP. NO. 961

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 244

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 244, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide increased funding for the Department of Human Services to collaborate with contracted community-based organizations to address the need for social services in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Easterseals Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center; YWCA of Kauaʻi; Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network; Parents And Children Together; Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Community Alliance on Prisons; Hawaiʻi True Cost Coalition; The Institute for Human Services, Inc; Aloha United Way; Child & Family Service; EPIC ʻOhana; Goodwill Hawaii; The Mediation Center of the Pacific, Inc.; Lanakila Pacific; Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.; Partners in Development Foundation; Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii; Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaiʻi; Spirit Horse Ranch; YMCA of Honolulu; AlohaCare; Partners in Care – Oʻahu Continuum of Care; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Share Your Mana; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; U.S.VETS Waiʻanae; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 244, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair