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 S.B. No. 2630 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to establish a protocol to identify and locate extended family members as placement resources for children who are placed in foster care.

The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Foster Parent Association, and Blueprint for Change all submitted testimony in favor of the measure.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Human Services should search for qualified, willing relatives to be considered as placement resources for children in need of foster homes. Currently, extended family members and other persons suggested by the family or child are solicited as potential foster parents. Passing this measure is consistent with the policies of the department and will ensure its commitment to placing foster children with family members who meet the requirements of a foster parent.

The Child's Service Plan is an agreement between the department and a parent specifying the duties and responsibilities of the parent but does not include prospective foster parents. Accordingly, an amendment was made to replace the Child's Service Plan with the Safe Family Home Report in the protocols that will address the appropriateness of the child's placement.

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 S.B. No. 2630, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.