STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1368-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 180

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.R. No. 180 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO REPORT ON THE CULTURAL AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AT THE KAWAILOA YOUTH AND FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services to report on the positive effects of cultural and therapeutic services provided by community-based organizations at the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center.

Your Committee received testimony in support from the Hawaii State Office of Youth Services; Partners in Development Foundation; RYSE; Opportunity Youth Action Hawaii; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that ten percent of Hawaii’s homeless population is comprised of individuals under the age of eighteen years, and forty-four percent of homeless youth report having spent time in jail or a juvenile detention center. Community-based support centers for homeless or formerly incarcerated youth substantially reduce the likelihood that youth are incarcerated and experience homelessness. Your Committee further finds that expanding State and private sector collaboration and implementing proven and effective therapeutic and cultural methods to promote youth wellness can help the State reduce homelessness and the negative effects of incarceration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 180, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 180, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair