Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2161, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide additional protection to foster children through the establishment of a Foster Children's Bill of Rights.

The Hawaii Youth Services Network, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition supported this measure with an amendment. The Department of Human Services did not support this bill. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 2161, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2161, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.