STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1039-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2427

H.D. 3

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2427, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Align Department of Education policies with the McKinney-Vento Act to ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth are afforded all rights guaranteed under federal law; and

(2) Establish a student-centered, safety-first protocol to be used when these youth seek to enroll in or attend school.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Rainbow Family 808; Hawaii Youth Services Network; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Youth Services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that the Office of Youth Services does not provide direct case management services and that requiring schools to notify the Office when working with runaway or unaccompanied homeless youth would inadvertently trigger law enforcement's and Child Welfare Services' involvement. Your Committee further notes the Office's request that references to the Office be removed from the measure and respectfully requests that these concerns be considered as the measure moves forward.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2427, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2427, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair