Bill Text: HI HB721 | 2011 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Hawaii Foster Youth Mentorship Program
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-14 - (H) Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting no (0) and Thielen excused (1). [HB721 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2011-HB721-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
721 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FOSTER YOUTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that foster youth lack stable and consistent relationships with positive adult role models. These relationships are critical to the lives and well-being of foster youth and have been found essential to:
(1) Building the self-esteem of foster youth;
(2) Teaching healthy forms of communication;
(3) Fostering a sense of community and belonging; and
(4) Improving school attendance and reducing attrition.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a statewide mentorship program for foster youth to enrich their lives and improve their opportunities for future success.
SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§346- Hawaii foster youth mentorship program; established. (a) There is established within the department of human services, the Hawaii foster youth mentorship program. The department shall establish and administer the program to:
(1) Serve foster youth from ages seven to eighteen years old;
(2) Recruit and coordinate adult members of the community as mentors; and
(3) Facilitate consistent, meaningful, and long-term interaction between adult mentors and foster youth by establishing program guidelines for mentors.
(b) The department shall partner with the department of education, office of Hawaiian affairs, interested schools, and appropriate public, nonprofit, and private agencies to establish the Hawaii foster youth mentorship program; provided that the department may contract with the office of Hawaiian affairs or appropriate nonprofit or private organizations to provide services for the Hawaii foster youth mentorship program.
(c) The department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to effectuate the purposes of this section."
SECTION 3. There
is appropriated out of the general fund of the State the sum of or so
much as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 to
establish and administer the Hawaii foster youth mentorship program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human
services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Hawaii Foster Youth Mentorship Program
Description:
Establishes the Hawaii Foster Youth Mentorship Program in the Department of Human Services to promote the well-being of foster youth. (HB721 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
