STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 826
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.B. No. 282
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 282, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINORS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Partners In Care, Oahu's Continuum of Care; Residential Youth Services & Empowerment; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and Department of Human Services.
Your Committee finds that youth experiencing homelessness in the State is a growing issue that needs to be addressed separately from adult and family homelessness. Your Committee further finds that programs that provide services to youths are currently prohibited from sheltering youth under the age of eighteen. As a result, homeless youth are left without a safe space to sleep at night and many often partner with older adults and end up in unlawful, exploitive situations. This measure seeks to increase access to emergency shelter for homeless youth by expanding the circumstances under which a minor may consent to no cost emergency shelter.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 282, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair |
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