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, to which was referred H.B. No. 630 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the adoption of children by exempting the Department of Human Services (DHS) from the statutory requirements for medical information on natural parents of the prospective adopted minor child when it will expedite the adoption process and it is in the best interest of the child.

Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by DHS. Testimony in opposition of this measure was submitted by Hawaii State Foster Parents Association.

Your Committee recognizes that by exempting DHS from the statutory requirement, adoption procedures may be more expeditious. This ultimately benefits the child.

Based on recommendations from DHS in response to community concerns, your Committee has deleted the substance of this bill and inserted provisions that:

1. Waive the requirement for court-ordered medical information forms if the completed forms are not returned to DHS; and
2. Mandate the completion of medical information forms and consent to release medical information at the dispositional hearing.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 630, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 630, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.