Provides an emergency appropriation to allow the Department to meet its state and federal mandates to provide foster board and board-related costs, permanency assistance, and difficulty-of-care payments for foster and adoptive parents, permanent custodians, and guardians of children with special needs. (SB1114 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Act 281, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, appropriated a sum of money to the department of human services to provide funds for child welfare services under the department's social services division for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2001.

A critical funding emergency exists. The department is mandated by both state and federal statute to provide foster care to abused and neglected children and to find permanent homes for those children who are unable to return to their original homes. Foster board and board-related costs, permanency assistance, and difficulty-of-care payments for foster and adoptive parents, permanent custodians, and guardians of children with special needs must be paid to support child placements.

To comply with the department's mandates, additional funds are urgently needed.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated or authorized from the sources of funding indicated below, the following sums or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001 to provide foster board and board-related costs, permanency assistance, and difficulty-of-care payments for foster and adoptive parents, permanent custodians, and guardians of children with special needs:

General funds: $4,882,863

Other federal funds: $2,711,014

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 upon its approval.