STAND. COM. REP. NO.  677

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 581

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 581 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ZERO TO THREE COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the Hawaii Zero to Three Court by appropriating funds for program manager and case manager positions, transportation for parents to visit children, emergency housing assistance, parent coaching, visitation enhancement, continued implementation of an incentive program similar to the successful model utilized in Family Drug Court, and continued training and professional development of court team members and community partners.

The Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Hawaii Family Support Institute, Family Programs Hawaii, Hawaii Association for Infant Mental Health, Zero to Three, Parents and Children Together, Child and Family Service, Hawaii's Early Childhood Action Strategy, and two individuals testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the amounts of the appropriations to unspecified amounts;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 581, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 581, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair