STAND. COM. REP. NO. 815

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 809

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 809, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to minimize the adverse effects homelessness on children by establishing a task force to coordinate resources available to homeless children.

 

     The measure also specifies membership in the task force and requires the task force to establish findings and develop recommendations to coordinate private resources and submit interim and final reports to the Legislature.  This measure further establishes and makes an appropriation to the kokua na keiki special fund and grant program under the Department of Human Services.  The appropriation of general funds into the special fund as well as the appropriation out of the special fund for the task force are conditioned upon a determination by the Department of Human Services that federal funds may be appropriately expended by the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee received one written comment on this measure.  The written comment may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that homelessness can cause extreme physical and emotional stress in children.  Consequently, homeless children are more likely to suffer from threats to their well-being such as poor physical and mental health, hygiene, weak academic performance, poor social interactions, and exposure to violence.  Your Committee believes that a task force, with members having expertise in social services and homelessness, can coordinate and develop resources to help the State's homeless children.

 

     Your Committee also finds that during this time of economic hardship, financial support from the State is limited.  The measure reflects this economic reality by conditioning the appropriations on the availability of federal funds.

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that the kokua na keiki special fund can only be established if the Department of Human Services determines that federal funds are available;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2045, to facilitate further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making a technical nonsubstantive change.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 809, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 809, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair