STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1574

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 242
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.C.R. No. 242 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     HUMAN SERVICES AND THE HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
     PROSECUTOR TO VOLUNTARILY DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING
     THE HISTORY, STATUS, AND DISPOSITION OF THE CHILD ABUSE AND
     NEGLECT CASE OF "PETER BOY" KEMA THAT THEY ARE NOT OTHERWISE
     PROHIBITED FROM DISCLOSING BY LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Department of Human Services (DHS), the Hawaii County Police
Department, and the Hawaii County Prosecutor to disclose any
information regarding the case of "Peter Boy" Kema that they are
not prohibited from disclosing by law.

     The State Attorney General (AG) testified in opposition to
this measure.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
measure by deleting its substantive provisions and making the
following amendments:

     (1)  Urging the AG and relevant public interest law entities
          to review the investigation procedures used in the Kema
          case;


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1574
                                 Page 2

 
     (2)  Urging the AG and relevant public interest law entities
          to review and recommend possible statutory revisions to
          address the likelihood of the death of a "missing
          child;"

     (3)  Urging the AG and relevant public interest law entities
          to address the issue of statutory confidentiality,
          under section 587-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and
          whether it serves the best interests of children and
          the general public;

     (4)  Changing its title to read: "URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF
          THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND RELEVANT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
          ENTITIES TO REVIEW INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES AND THE
          ISSUE OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES
          LIKE THAT OF "PETER BOY" KEMA;"

     (5)  Directing the AG to submit a report to the Legislature
          before the Regular Session of 2000;

     (6)  Transmitting copies of this measure to the AG, Director
          of Human Services, Police Chiefs from each county, and
          County Prosecutors from each county; and

     (5)  Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
H.C.R. No. 242, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs in
the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 242, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair
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