STAND. COM. REP. NO. 62

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 22

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 22 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide additional means by which minors may seek emergency shelter.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Youth Services Network, Residential Youth Services and Empowerment, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is often reluctance on the part of minors seeking no-cost emergency shelter due to their concerns about being reported to child welfare services or law enforcement, absent permission from their parents or other legal guardians.  Your Committee further finds that permitting a minor to consent to these emergency services will reduce their exposure to harm on the streets.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Allowing the child welfare services branch to become involved with a youth even without a provider report suspecting child abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services; and

 

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

 

     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 S.B. No. 22, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 22, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair