Bill Text: HI HB1354 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Keiki Caucus; Healthy Start; Enhanced Healthy Start; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB1354 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-HB1354-Amended.html
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 512
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2009
RE: H.B. No. 1354
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Fifth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2009
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1354 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to grow into successful, well-adjusted adults by appropriating general funds and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for the Healthy Start and Enhanced Healthy Start programs to address budgetary shortfalls and implement recommended improvements.
The Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Department of Human Services (DHS) testified in opposition to this measure.
The national Healthy Families America program model drew extensively from the research, knowledge, and experience of Hawaii's Healthy Start program which began as a demonstration child abuse prevention project in 1985 and was expanded into a statewide program in the fall of 2001. Currently, the Healthy Start program offers focused support services within a family's natural environment designed to reduce the likelihood of child maltreatment. These services include providing linkages with community resources, early childhood education, family literacy programs, employment assistance, and providing parents with child development information, positive parenting skills, and problem-solving techniques.
Your Committee notes that while several of the front-end services provided by the Healthy Start program are akin to programs under DHS jurisdiction, Healthy Start itself is administratively under the Department of Health and therefore should be included in the allocation of funds.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Adding additional provisions and appropriations to ensure the Healthy Start and Enhanced Healthy Start programs can continue to provide necessary services to Hawaii's families; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1354, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1354, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,
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____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair |
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