STAND. COM. REP. NO. 492

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 64
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 64 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the parent or
legal guardian of a minor to be financially responsible for the
support and maintenance of the minor until the minor attains age
eighteen.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from Iron Workers Stabilization Fund.

     This measure is primarily intended for teen pregnancy
situations when the parents of the newborn do not marry at all.
The problem arises when the parents are unable to support the
child, necessitating the grandparents to do so.  If the
grandparents offer no financial support, the vicious cycle of
poverty begins with its attendant socio-economic consequences.
Eventually, the State provides the financial support with
taxpayer moneys.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 64 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Judiciary.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 492
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                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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