STAND. COM. REP. NO.51

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 967

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 967 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR TRANSITIONAL LIVING SERVICES FOR UNSERVED STREET YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to provide transitional living services for unserved street youth.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Na Keiki Law Center, a program of Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii; Hale Kipa; the Hawaii Youth Services Network; and one concerned citizen. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Office of Youth Services.

Your Committee finds that many homeless youth live on the streets because of factors beyond their control. Many of these youth find themselves in vulnerable and dangerous situations while "on the street", including sexual exploitation, risky behavior, poor health, and exposure to violent criminal acts.

Transitional living services can provide homeless youth with the support and guidance needed to move from childhood to adult independent living. Accordingly, your Committee is reporting this measure out to facilitate further discussion of the issue.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 967 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair