Signed by Governor David Ige

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that expands assistance for homeless youth.

Highlights:

• Establishes a program to create safe spaces in each county for youth who are experiencing homelessness (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the program will collaborate with all the departments of the state to coordinate the identification of youth who are experiencing homelessness and placement of these youth into a shelter (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a shelter may admit youth into care for up to ninety days without the consent of the youth’s parent or guardian (Sec. 2).

• Defines “shelter for homeless youth” as a facility that operates twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week with the following services (Sec. 2):

• Overnight lodging and supervision;

• Hot meals and hot showers;

• Access to medical and behavioral health services; and

• Education and employment support.

• Defines “youth” as an individual who is at least fourteen years of age but under the age of twenty-five (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that the program will receive $600,000 of funding from the general revenues of the State of Hawaii (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text