STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1110

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1466

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1466, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Youth Advisory Commission within the Office of Youth Services to advise the Governor and Legislature on the effects of legislative policies, needs, assessments, priorities, programs, and budgets concerning the youth of the State.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Chapter of the Young Progressives Demanding Action, and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Youth Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that increasing youth participation in the public policymaking process is in the best interest of the State, as Hawaii has the lowest voter participation rate in the United States.  Although young people aged sixteen and seventeen may work and pay taxes, they are denied a formal role in the political process because they are prohibited from voting.  Establishing a Youth Advisory Commission could enable greater interest in policymaking for youth and provide valuable input on issues affecting young people.

 

     Your Committee notes that S.B. No. 1220, S.D. 1 (Regular Session of 2017), a substantively similar measure, was previously passed by your Committee and contains language that is preferable because it, among other things:

 

     (1)  Discusses the importance of youth participation in public policymaking;

 

     (2)  Specifies that one member appointed by the Governor to the Youth Advisory Commission must be a previous recipient of youth services;

 

     (3)  Expands the list of criteria to be considered by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives when making appointments to the Youth Advisory Commission;

 

     (4)  Allows the Youth Advisory Commission members to invite other individuals to participate in commission activities as temporary, nonvoting members; and

 

     (5)  Inserts language that appropriates an unspecified amount for the hiring of one staff position to administer the Youth Advisory Commission.

 

     Your Committee further notes that an appropriation amount of $150,000 would be necessary to cover the costs of hiring one staff position to administer the Youth Advisory Commission and other expenses, such as travel and administrative costs.  Furthermore, the Office of Youth Services and Hawaii Youth Services Network are encouraged to submit nominations to the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives for consideration of appointments to the Youth Advisory Commission.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the contents of S.B. No. 1220, S.D. 1, which:

 

     (1)  Establishes a Youth Advisory Commission within the Office of Youth Services to advise the Governor and Legislature on issues relating to youth;

 

     (2)  Appropriates funds for the hiring of one staff position to administer the Youth Advisory Commission and other associated administrative costs; and

 

     (3)  Includes an effective date of July 1, 2017.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1466, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1466, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair