STAND. COM. REP. NO. 419

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 223

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Office of Youth Services Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program by clarifying access to services, providing a definition of homeless youth, and expanding the age of youth that may be served under the pilot program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, Hawai‘i Youth Services Network, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the Safe Spaces Pilot Program (Pilot Program) which was established by Act 130, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022 (Act 130), contracts with nonprofit organizations to operate a shelter for homeless youth for up to ninety days without the consent of the youth's parent or guardian. Act 130 was enacted after the Legislature found that runaway and homeless youth are vulnerable to multiple threats, such as unmet basic food and shelter needs, untreated mental health disorders, substance use, significant disruption to their education, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual exploitation, and suicide. However, Act 130 is currently limited to youth ages fourteen to twenty-four who are homeless. Your Committees believe that the intent of Act 130 was not just to provide services to homeless youth, but also to prevent homelessness by providing access to services for youth experiencing a variety of crisis situations. This measure therefore expands the populations of youth who may be served under the Pilot Program, which will enhance existing services for runaway and homeless youth statewide.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $4,496,870.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 223, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 223, H.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Health & Homelessness,

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair