Report Title:

Family Centers; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid subsidy to Family Centers.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

968

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for FAMILY CENTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the family is the fundamental social and economic unit in Hawaii and that the success of the State is dependent upon the strengths of its families. Therefore, it is in the State's best interest to support the development of strong and cohesive family units that relate successfully to and within their communities.

The legislature also finds that the family support center model is a community-based, assets-focused, and integrated way of incubating and mobilizing resources for all of Hawaii's families and communities so that they can become strong, self-sufficient, interdependent, and socially responsible. Therefore, it is in the State's best interest to support family support centers around the State.

Act 329, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990 (Act 329), established a family support center demonstration project administered by the department of human services. The purpose of the project was to establish community-based family resource programs with a holistic approach to providing services to support and strengthen families and communities.

Pursuant to Act 329, family centers were established on Oahu, Hawaii, Molokai, and Kauai, and serve families living in some of the most economically disadvantaged and depressed areas, nontraditional families, and families at risk. Each center has its own mission and goals based upon the values and needs of the community it serves. The centers' services include information and referral, parenting education, support and self-help groups, self-sufficiency skills development, and family empowerment.

Upon the termination of the demonstration project in 1995, funding from the department of human services ceased and currently the centers rely upon other sources of funding, including county moneys, grants, and private donations, to continue their mission.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for family centers in order to facilitate the development of strong families and communities in the State.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $750,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the sum of $750,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, as a grant-in-aid to family centers around the State.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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