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. 1533 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish child protection teams under the Department of Human Services. This measure further appropriates funds to provide direct expert medical evaluation and consultation on cases of reported abuse and neglect reported to the Department.

Testimony in support of this measure was provided by the City and County of Honolulu Police Department. Testimony in opposition to this measure was provided by the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that between 1996 and 1999, the number of child abuse reports received by the child protective services on Oahu that were investigated increased by forty-five per cent. Although medical evaluations are provided for seriously injured children who are hospitalized and children who exhibit a history of sex abuse, your Committee feels that this does not go far enough. Thus, your Committee is passing this measure to better evaluate and protect these unfortunate abused children.

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. 1533 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.