Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 637 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of the bill is to encourage consideration of "ohana conferencing" as a practice in the resolution of child protective cases.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Human Services. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the measure from the Hawaii State Foster Parents Association.

Your Committee finds that giving statutory consideration to the practice of "ohana conferencing", which allows for input from family members to expedite decision making, would encourage a practice that shortens the time a protected child is placed in foster care.

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. 637 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.