Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 629 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow foster parents the authority to provide consent for the educational and recreational needs of the foster children placed in their care.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) supported this measure. The Child Welfare Services State Advisory Council and Hawaii Youth Services Network supported the intent of this measure. The Department of Education supported the intent of the measure but opposes the current draft of the bill.

Foster parents currently need approval from DHS social workers to provide consent for children to participate in educational and recreational activities, such as school field trips. The intent of this bill is to streamline this process.

Your Committees have amended this bill by exempting children under Individual Educational Plans.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 629, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 629, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.