Bill Text: HI SB791 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Children; Healthy Start; Keiki Caucus; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB791 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB791-Introduced.html
Report Title:
Children; Healthy Start; Keiki Caucus; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds from general revenues and the temporary assistance for needy families funds for the healthy start program.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
791 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CHILDREN.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's healthy start program is designed to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes child development among high-risk infants and toddlers. The legislature authorized the establishment of the healthy start program in 1984, and the program was deployed statewide in 2001. Healthy Families America, a national program model designed to help expectant and new parents provide a healthy start for their children, drew largely from the research, knowledge, and experience of Hawaii's healthy start program.
Research confirms the impact that an abuse-free, stable, and nurturing environment has on a child's physical and psychological development. The development of a child's brain is negatively affected by trauma, abuse, and stress. Children's brains are approximately ninety per cent developed by age three, and to a great extent their earliest experiences define their adult functional capacities. Statistics show a positive correlation between childhood abuse and school failure, delinquency, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, and homelessness.
Support programs such as healthy start are especially important during times of economic distress. The Center for Law and Social Policy notes studies showing that incidents of child abuse and neglect increase during financial downturns. Healthy start is an important resource for overburdened families to assist them with safe and successful parenting. Parents unable to form bonds with their infants or suffering from substance abuse issues, domestic violence, depression, or financial difficulty, are invited to the program. Once enrolled, parents are offered practical support in the form of food, clothing, and housing and employment resources, as well as parenting support from social workers and child development specialists. Loss of the support offered by the healthy start program to high-risk families in such critical times can lead to increased child abuse, social and health problems, and loss of future human capital and productivity.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,700,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the sum of $4,700,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 to supplement the healthy start program.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of temporary assistance for needy families funds the sum of $4,700,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the sum of $4,700,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 to supplement the healthy start program.
SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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