STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2437

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3204

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3204 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a one‑year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Wellness and Resilience, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Children Action Network Speaks!, Epic ʻOhana, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that more programs and resources are necessary to increase family resilience and reduce the risk of child abuse or neglect. Many families at high risk of entering the child welfare system are unaware of available services or how to access them, or public benefits are not available to address the economic or other fiscal challenge they are facing. This measure establishes a one-year Family Resilience Pilot Program to allow the State to evaluate outcomes, identify best practices, and ensure that future efforts relating to building family resiliency are both effective and accountable.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3204 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair