Bill Text: HI SB800 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: State Commission on Fatherhood

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB800 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB800-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 287

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 800

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 800 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE STATE COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist the State Commission on Fatherhood in its mission by making appropriations for permanent staff and lengthening the terms of Commission membership to promote continuity.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, the Office of Youth Services, and the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State Commission on Fatherhood was established as a permanent entity within the State in 2007 in recognition of its value in promoting healthy family relationships between parents and children.  Your Committee further finds that children are more likely to thrive with support, guidance, and nurturing from both parents.  The presence of fathers has a positive impact on the lives of their children, as reflected in better academic performance, fewer high-risk behaviors, and higher self-esteem.

 

     Your Committee further finds that it is necessary for the Commission on State Fatherhood to hire an executive director and the staff necessary to implement its strategic plan.  The plan calls for a statewide inventory of services available to fathers, developing policy recommendations for best practices in providing services for fathers, and identifying and promoting new laws to improve father involvement, among other goals.  The appropriations included in this measure are intended to fund the creation of permanent positions within the Commission.

 

     Based on testimony received relating to the measure, your Committee finds that a longer term for voting membership on the State Commission on Fatherhood would permit continuity and reduce the difficulty the Commission has faced in timely replacing vacant  membership seats.  Further, each member shall serve for a maximum of two terms.

 

            Your Committee has amended the measure as follows:

 

     (1)  By inserting a specific amount for appropriation and making such appropriation for each year of the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium; and

 

     (2)  By inserting language to amend subsection (c) of section 577E‑3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to extend the term of membership on the State Commission on Fatherhood to four years, and to limit members to serving no more than two terms on the Commission.

 

     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 S.B. No. 800, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 800, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

		____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair