Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1112 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require service plans prepared under the Child Protective Act to include Ohana conferencing as a part of the plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services and from a graduate student of social work.

Your Committee finds that Ohana conferencing would be an effective means of providing for the long term well-being of at risk children. An Ohana conference focuses on the permanent needs and safety of a child by including every family member and important person in the child's life. Together these people make decisions in the best long-term interest of the child.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1112 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.