STAND. COM. REP. NO. 325-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2662

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2662 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to establish a two-year Recreation and Education Upward Mobility Pilot Program for youth tenants in public housing; and

(2) Permit the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to contract with outside parties to implement the pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's youth represents our future and investing in this population benefits not only the youth but the community as well. Your Committee further finds that sports positively impact the mental, emotional, social, and physical health of children and teens. Education on financial literacy, job skills training, and college preparation also help youth to understand what it takes to gain and maintain employment to be able to financially support themselves. Your Committee therefore finds that this measure will empower youth tenants in public housing by encouraging them to be physically active and enabling them to learn valuable work skills and financial education to prepare them for success in life.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Recreation and Education Upward Mobility Pilot Program to be in compliance with, rather than exempt from, the State's public procurement laws; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority requested an appropriation amount of $500,000 to implement the Recreation and Education Upward Mobility Pilot Program.

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. 2662, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2662, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair