STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 199

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 801

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 801 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish further protections for children by, among other things:

(1) Requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a database for information relating to child protective proceedings;

(2) Defining "abuse";

(3) Requiring DHS to conduct a criminal conviction record check on individuals who report child abuse or neglect;

(4) Requiring law enforcement authorities to interview the child reportedly being harmed and to recommend a course of action to DHS; and

(5) Requiring probable cause to believe a child is subject to imminent harm in a temporary foster custody hearing.

Two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawaii supported this measure with amendments. The Honolulu Police Department opposed this measure. DHS and the Office of Information Practices provided comments.

Your Committee recognizes that the Child Protective Services (CPS) system must place the health, safety, and welfare of affected children first. Establishing a database and creating other protections within the CPS system will help to further promote the safety and best interests of children and their families.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

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. 801, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 801, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

		____________________________ ALEX M. SONSON, Chair