Bill Text: HI HB665 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 665 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: At-risk Youth Task Force; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB665 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB665-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	665
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to at-risk youth.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The court system, department of education, department of health, department of human services, social service agencies, and other providers are overwhelmed by the problems surrounding at-risk youth.

Due to the shortage of diversion and inpatient treatment programs, many youth status offenders are placed in detention homes for months at a time. Still more at-risk youth fall through the cracks and receive inadequate or no services. Parents who are unable to control their children are faced with few to no options when it comes to obtaining adequate intervention services.

State departments and non-profits trying to assist at-risk youth lack resources and the ability to share information to form a cost-effective and comprehensive system to assist at-risk youth and their families. Now that the Felix consent decree has expired, many organizations must regroup and work together to strategize about how best to use limited resources to maximize outcomes for our at-risk youth.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to create a cost-effective and comprehensive system to address problems relating to at-risk youth and their families.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established an at-risk youth task force to conduct comprehensive reviews of challenges facing at-risk youth in Hawaii and suggest a cost-effective system to address problems relating to at-risk youth and their families. The task force shall be administered by the University of Hawaii.

(b) The members of the task force shall be appointed by the department of health's child and adolescent mental health division and shall consist of a minimum of one representative of each of the following groups:

(1) The department of health's child and adolescent mental health division;

(2) Family court;

(3) The department of education's administration and school based behavioral health division;

(4) The department of human services' child welfare services;

(5) Hawaii youth correctional facility;

(6) Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health;

(7) Queens Medical Center;

(8) Bobby Benson Center;

(9) Hawaii Families as Allies;

(10) Island Partners in Care;

(11) Public defender's office;

(12) United States military;

(13) Hawaii Psychological Association;

(14) Neighborhood board members and legislators of affected communities;

(15) Attorney general's office;

(16) Honolulu police department;

(17) University of Hawaii;

(18) Hawaii Primary Care Association;

(19) Hawaii Youth Services Network;

(20) Mental Health Association of Hawaii;

(21) Wraparound Services Working Group;

(22) Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative;

(23) Office of youth services of the department of human services; and

(24) Hale Kipa.

(c) The at-risk youth task force shall hire a consultant to provide technical expertise and support for the at-risk youth task force.

(d) The at-risk youth task force shall hold public meetings and shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015 detailing its findings, recommendations, including a suggested cost-effective system to address problems relating to at-risk youth and their families, and any proposed legislation.

(e) The at-risk youth task force shall be dissolved on June 30, 2015.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the at-risk youth task force to hire a consultant to provide technical expertise and support for the task force.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2013.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

At-risk Youth Task Force; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes an at-risk youth task force to recommend a cost-effective, comprehensive system to address problems relating to at-risk youth and their families. Requires the at-risk youth task force to submit a report to the legislature.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.