STAND. COM. REP. NO. 230
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: H.B. No. 1146
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1146 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to help ensure the professionalism of social workers by, among other things:
(1) Prohibiting the Department of Human Resources
Development (DHRD) from eliminating or replacing the classifications of social workers that existed on July 1, 2004; and
(2) Restoring the social worker class if it is eliminated or replaced before the effective date of this bill.
The University of Hawaii School of Social Work and many concerned individuals supported this bill. The National Association of Social Workers supported this bill with amendments. HGEA supported the intent of this measure. DHRD opposed this bill.
Your Committees find that it is important to continue to reserve the title and requirements of the social worker classification to uphold the quality of care given to persons in need of their services. Your Committees don't wish to follow the case of Project Malama, which attempted to use lesser trained individuals in the place of Social Workers. This project disbanded 10 years ago and is an example of what this measure seeks to prevent.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1146 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Labor & Public Employment.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,
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____________________________ ALEX M. SONSON, Chair |
____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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