STAND. COM. REP. NO. 537

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1118
                                     




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1118 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF DEPARTMENT OF
     HUMAN SERVICES' RECORDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend the Department of Human
Services confidentiality statutes to allow the Department to make
rules to reflect changes, as they are made, in federal statutes
and regulations relating to confidentiality.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill
from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that during the past decade, federal
statutes and regulations concerning child abuse and negligence
have changed and continue to change.  Compliance with these
federal statutes and rules is required for the continuation of
services which are federally funded.  This bill provides the
Department of Human Services with the flexibility to keep Hawaii
current with federal regulations.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1118 and recommends that it be referred to
the Committee on Finance.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 537
                                 Page 2

 
                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary &
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   PAUL T. OSHIRO, Chair