STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1339

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1019

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 1019, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Safe Places for Youth Pilot Program to coordinate a network of safe places that youth can access and obtain advice, guidance, access to programs, and services;

(2) Require the Office of Youth Services to examine options to reduce the use of status offense laws and implement a Status Offense Diversion Program; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Safe Places for Youth Pilot Program and the Status Offense Diversion Program.

The Office of Youth Services, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Rainbow Family 808, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, IMUAlliance, and many individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its substantive contents and inserting language which requires the Judiciary, in collaboration with the Office of Youth Services, to establish a task force to determine existing diversion programs statewide that can assist the State's youth.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1019, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1019, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

______________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair