STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1171

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1513

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1513, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WEED AND SEED STRATEGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to continue and expand the "weed and seed" strategy to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in Hawaii.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes a permanent weed and seed program within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and

 

     (2)  Appropriates funds to maintain and expand the operations of the weed and seed program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Mila Kahaanui, Executive Director, Office of Community Services, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Kelli Buenconsejo, RN, Leeward Oahu Nursing Office, Department of Health; Michael F. Broderick, President and Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Honolulu; Glenn Muranaka, President and General Manager, Meadow Gold Dairies; Sharene Saito Tam, Assistant Vice President, Haseko Development, Inc.; Walter Osakoda, Treasurer, Waipahu Community Association; Carol Brack, Executive Vice President and Property Manager, Waipahu Town Center; Ala Moana-Sheridan-McCully, Waipahu, and Ewa Weed and Seed Committees; Paul S. Taga, Principal, Waipahu Elementary School; Gale Mejia, Waipahu Project Director, GEAR UP; Frances Rivero, Director, Hale Pono Clubhouse; and 1521 individuals.

 

     Your Committee received comments on the measure from Dwight Y. Takamine, Director, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

 

     Your Committee finds that the collaborative strategy of the weed and seed program has proven successful in one hundred fifteen sites across the nation, including the six Oahu-based sites.  This measure will enable the State to expand the program and improve its efforts to prevent violent crimes, drug abuse, and gang activity throughout Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2117, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive change for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1513, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1513, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair