Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase the possibility for a child to be placed with a relative by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to make a good faith effort to locate relatives of a child about to be placed in foster care.

A concerned individual testified in support of this measure. DHS supported the concept of this bill.

Your Committee finds that there have been situations where children have been placed in foster families with no family connection even though relatives were available and willing to care for the child. Some relatives claim that they were never given the opportunity, and others say they were not notified that the child was being placed in foster care.

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 S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.