STAND. COM. REP. NO. 718

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 815

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 815, 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 support the Judiciary's early intervention services for infants and toddlers by appropriating funds for the Honolulu Zero to Three Court.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Hawaii Family Support Institute, and two concerned individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that in 2008, the Family Court began the Zero to Three Court program in response to increasing scientific evidence that infants and toddlers are neurologically compromised by dysfunctional family dynamics even if they are not directly physically harmed, and that early intervention is effective in preventing or alleviating these problems.  The Zero to Three Court began with federal funding and grants from the national non-profit Zero to Three organization and subsequently has been sustained through private funds.  This measure will enable the Zero to Three Court to continue providing essential services to children and their families until more long-term state funding can be secured.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure.

 

     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. 815, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 815, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair