Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1200 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to afford parents an opportunity to file for dissolution of a guardianship if the parents demonstrate they can provide a safe family home for the children.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Human Services. The Judiciary submitted comments regarding this measure.

Your Committee finds that this measure will encourage the rehabilitation of parents and the reunification of families by allowing parents to petition the Family Court for a dissolution of a permanent guardianship of their children, upon a showing of a change in circumstances and a demonstration that they are willing and able to provide a safe family home for their children.

Your Committee has amended this measure to clarify that the parents must be able to show a change in circumstances relative to their ability to provide a safe home and to demonstrate that they are willing and able to provide a safe home for the child without the assistance of a service plan. Your Committee also has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 S.B. No. 1200, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1200, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.