| This bill establishes the Department of Human Services as the |
| agency responsible for studying, planning for and creating |
| services for runaway and homeless youth. The services will seek |
| to address needs of youth who are without families, who may be |
| exploited, who suffer greater health, mental health and |
| educational problems than the general population and who have |
| less access to appropriate services. The bill seeks to develop a |
| system of coordinated services for runaway and homeless youth |
| through street outreach, emergency shelters and transitional |
| living programs. The bill involves the Interagency Task Force on |
| Homelessness and Housing Opportunities in these efforts. |