Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 537, H.D. 2, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Kapiolani Child At-Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the American Academy of Pediatrics-Hawaii Chapter, Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Family Support Institute, Hawaii Foster Parent Association, Kapiolani Child At-Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program, the CARE Advisory Committee, and six individuals. Your Committees also received comments from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that the Kapiolani CARE Program provides comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate forensic health services to children who are victims or suspected victims of abuse and neglect. The Kapiolani CARE Program is the sole source on Oahu of medical expertise in the field of physical abuse of children, and the only medical program available to assist Child Welfare Services with investigations of reported harm and identification of child-abuse related health problems. CARE program clinicians also train physicians, nurses, social workers, police, and attorneys in the medical aspects of child abuse and neglect. Your Committees further find that private funding for the Kapiolani CARE Program will terminate in July 2005, and that this measure is vital to ensure the perpetuation of the program. Moreover, your Committees believe that this measure will increase the accurate identification of child abuse and neglect cases, while decreasing the likelihood of erroneous accusations.

Your Committees also note that earlier your Committee on Human Services passed the Senate companion to this measure, S.B. No. 27, which was subsequently amended by the Committee on Ways and Means.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the appropriation amounts from $1 to $500,000 for fiscal year 2005-2006, and from $1 to $600,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 537, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 537, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.