Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2458, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify and expand the responsibility of the Department of Human Services to use alternatives to bringing children into the formal Child Protective Services.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services and Child Welfare Services. The Judiciary submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that the federal Child and Family Services Review of Hawaii's child welfare system recommends the use of culturally sensitive, family strengthening diversion and other supportive services to improve the safety and well-being of children and families. The amendments in this measure are necessary to comply with the federal recommendations. This measure will help ensure that the child will not be taken out of custody unnecessarily and preserve the relationships that are important to the child's well-being.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has made the following amendments:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2458, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2458, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.