STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1788

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 613

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 613, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to codify in the Hawaii Revised Statutes the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program established pursuant to Act 130, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a safe spaces for youth program within the Department of Human Services Office of Youth Services;

(2) Requires the program to collaborate with all state and county departments that offer services for youth and young adults to coordinate the identification and placement of youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness at a shelter for homeless youth or young adults; and

(3) Authorizes the Office of Youth Services to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide shelters for homeless youth or young adults.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Human Services; Office of Youth Services; Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission; County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development; Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii State Association of Counties; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Indivisible Leeward Oahu; Opportunity for Youth Action Hawaii; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; RYSE; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Office of Youth Services has worked on planning and developing the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program and has recommended that the pilot program become permanent.

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 H.B. No. 613, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair