STAND. COM. REP. NO.  403-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2273

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2273 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to assist foster children and children transitioning from foster care by:

 

     (1)  Appropriating funds for independent skills training; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the issuance of general obligation (GO) bonds to build transitional housing.

 

     The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Replacing the authorization to issue GO bonds with an appropriation to provide vouchers and other financial housing assistance to allow foster youth and youth being released from foster care to choose their own housing; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2273, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2273, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair