STAND. COM. REP. NO.  171-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1697

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1697 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide safe places where youth can seek shelter from harmful environments and access advice, guidance, programs, and services through the Safe Places for Youth Pilot Program.  This measure implements the Safe Places for Youth Pilot Program, establishes the position of youth program coordinator, and appropriates funds to support the coordinator and residential options for the Program.

The Hawaii Youth Services Network; Kauai Community Alliance; Planned Parenthood of Hawaii; IMUAlliance; Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Community Alliance for Mental Health; and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Office of Youth Services and Hawaii Association for Justice provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying the definitions of "minor" and "youth";

(2)  Removing providers' immunity from civil or criminal liability; and

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

     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. 1697, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1697, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair