HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.63          
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO
    DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN FOR THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES AND
    REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM
    AUDIT OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES.



 1        WHEREAS, the State has a responsibility to provide its
 2   youth a fair and full opportunity to reach their full potential
 3   and become law-abiding citizens of our community by providing
 4   and encouraging services that strengthen their physical,
 5   emotional, social, educational, and moral development; and
 6   
 7        WHEREAS, there is a need for a strong state commitment to
 8   the needs of youth and families.  Of particular concern are
 9   those youth who come into conflict with the laws of our
10   community.  To achieve this commitment, there is need for
11   statewide planning and system coordination, oversight of
12   activities and services, and evaluation and monitoring of the
13   effectiveness of these services; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, the Office of Youth Services was created in 1989
16   to serve as a central intake agency, and to coordinate the
17   delivery of services, provide a continuum of programs to
18   eliminate gaps, and provide a clear sense of responsibility and
19   accountability for youth services; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, the Legislature also finds that a policy for
22   youth was established for the State in 1989 when the Office of
23   Youth Services was established.  This policy states:
24   
25        (1)  It shall be the policy of this State to concentrate
26             on the prevention of delinquency as an important
27             strategy which can be planned and implemented on
28             behalf of youth and their families.  The State shall
29             encourage community involvement in the provision of
30             services for youth including, as an integral part,
31             local government, public and private voluntary
32             groups, public and private nonprofit groups, and
33             private for-profit groups in order to encourage and
34             provide innovative strategies for these services.  To
35             maximize resources and services to youth in need of

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.63          
                                                        
                                                        


 1             services, agencies shall develop standards of care,
 2             methods to coordinate services, and evaluate and
 3             monitor these activities.  For youth with special
 4             needs, the furtherance of this policy requires all
 5             agencies to recognize that their jurisdiction in
 6             meeting these youths' needs are not mutually
 7             exclusive and that they will work jointly under the
 8             coordination of the Office of Youth Services;
 9   
10        (2)  When youth at risk or their families request help,
11             state and local government resources shall be
12             utilized to complement community efforts to help meet
13             the needs of youth by aiding in the prevention and
14             resolution of their problems.  The State shall direct
15             its efforts first to strengthen and encourage family
16             life as the most appropriate environment for the care
17             and nurturing of youth.  To this end, the State shall
18             assist and encourage families to utilize all
19             available resources.  For youth in need of services,
20             the State shall secure those services as are needed
21             to serve the emotional, mental, and physical welfare
22             of youth and the best interests of the community,
23             preferably in the youth's home or in the least
24             restrictive environment possible.  When youths must
25             be placed in care away from their homes, the State
26             shall ensure that they are protected against any
27             harmful effects resulting from the temporary or
28             permanent inability of parents to provide care and
29             protection for their youth; and
30   
31        (3)  This policy for youth shall be implemented through
32             the cooperative efforts of state and county
33             legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as
34             well as other public and private resources.  Where
35             resources are limited, services shall be targeted to
36             those youth in greatest need;
37   
38   and
39   
40        WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that the strategic
41   plan for the Office of Youth Services will be ten years old in
42   2001, and that the Office's operations have not been subjected
43   to the scrutiny of a management and program audit; now,

 
 
 
 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.63          
                                                        
                                                        


 1   therefore,
 2   
 3        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 4   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 5   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested
 6   to conduct a management and program audit of all operations of
 7   the Office of Youth Services.  The Auditor is requested to
 8   submit any findings and recommendations to the Legislature not
 9   less than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
10   Session of 2000; and
11   
12        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to
13   establish a task force to develop a master plan for the Office
14   of Youth Services; and
15   
16        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to
17   consist of the Governor and fifteen members appointed by the
18   Governor from the following:
19   
20        (1)  One from the Department of Health;
21   
22        (2)  One from the Department of Human Services;
23   
24        (3)  One from the Department of Education;
25   
26        (4)  One from the University of Hawaii;
27   
28        (5)  One from the Department of Labor and Industrial
29             Relations;
30   
31        (6)  One from the Department of the Attorney General;
32   
33        (7)  One from the Department of Public Safety;
34   
35        (8)  One from the Judiciary;
36   
37        (9)  One member from each of the counties as selected by
38             the respective Mayors; and
39   
40       (10)  Three members from private agencies;
41   
42   and
43   

 
 
 
 
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 1        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in appointing the membership
 2   of the task force, the Governor is requested to ensure that the
 3   gender and ethnic composition of the task force reflects as
 4   nearly as possible the gender and ethnic composition of the
 5   State; and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to
 8   chair the task force; and
 9   
10        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force
11   are requested to serve without compensation but be reimbursed
12   for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the
13   performance of their duties; and
14   
15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Governor and
16   the Office of Youth Services, within the limits of its
17   resources, are requested to provide administrative, technical,
18   and professional support to the task force; and
19   
20        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to
21   submit a progress report to the Governor and the Legislature
22   not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
23   Session of 2000, a status report on the implementation of the
24   master plan not less than twenty days prior to the convening of
25   the Regular Session of 2001, and the completed master plan not
26   less than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
27   Session of 2002; and
28   
29        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force terminate on
30   June 30, 2002; and
31   
32        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
33   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor; the
34   Governor; the Executive Director of the Office of Youth
35   Services; the Directors of Health, Human Services, Labor and
36   Industrial Relations, and Public Safety; the President of the
37   University of Hawaii; the Attorney General; the Chief Justice;
38   the Superintendent of Education; and the Mayors of the counties
39   of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and the City and County of Honolulu.
40 
41 
42 
43                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________