STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3187

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2662

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2662, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committees find that the State has the highest cost of living in the nation and has not provided sufficient resources to prepare students with the financial education needed to tackle the real world. Your Committees further find that twenty-five states have already passed legislation to make financial literacy courses a high school graduation requirement. Furthermore, the promotion of sports and physical activity has been shown to improve youth's social emotional, and mental health. Therefore, this measure will more adequately prepare youth tenants for the future by providing important financial education and work skills, in addition to realizing the positive benefits of sports, to help improve the state's communities as a whole.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committees note the testimony given by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority regarding an estimated cost of $500,000 to begin the pilot program. Your Committees respectfully request future committees consider this figure as this measure moves through the legislative process.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2662, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2662, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair