THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

106

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CONVENE A WORKING STUDY GROUP TO CONDUCT A STUDY INTO SAFE SHELTER OPTIONS FOR YOUTH.

 

 


     WHEREAS, runaway and homeless youth on the street are at high risk for assault and sexual victimization, have no safe place to sleep, and lack proper nutrition; and

 

     WHEREAS, current Hawaii law requires parents or guardians to provide consent before a minor may be admitted into an emergency shelter; and

 

     WHEREAS, situations arise when that consent cannot be obtained because a parent or guardian either cannot be reached or refuses consent; and

 

     WHEREAS, unless the Department of Human Services opens an abuse or neglect investigation in these instances, the youth may not be admitted into the shelter and will likely spend the night on the street; and

 

     WHEREAS, children are entitled to emergency shelter benefits in the same way as adults and should not be denied services and forced to remain on the streets; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Youth Services and the Department of Human Services are requested to convene a working study group comprised of representatives from the following:

 

     (1)  The Department of Human Services;

 

     (2)  The Office of Youth Services;

 

     (3)  The Judiciary;

 

     (4)  Youth services providers; and

 

     (5)  Youth advocacy organizations.

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies and organizations invited into the working study group are requested to participate and work collaboratively to achieve the purposes of this Concurrent Resolution; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working study group shall conduct a study into safe shelter options for youth concerning, but not limited to, the following:

 

     (1)  How a runaway or homeless youth may access emergency shelter;

 

     (2)  What services and resources will be available to the youth during the emergency shelter stay;

 

     (3)  What longer term shelter options may be available to the youth after short-term, emergency stays may expire;

 

     (4)  What is the role of the Office of Youth Services and the Department of Human Services during the emergency and the longer term shelter stays; and

 

     (5)  How the legal liability concerns of shelter providers may be addressed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working study group is requested to submit a resulting report to the Legislature, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Office of Youth Services and the Director of the Department of Human Services, who shall in turn transmit it to the appropriate services providers and organizations for purposes of the working study group, and the Director of the Judiciary.

Report Title: 

Shelter Admission; Youth Services; DHS; Study