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.C.R. No. 68 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services to convene a working group of affected stakeholders to determine the feasibility of implementing procedures governing placement of children in temporary foster care with kin or non-kin foster parents.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Human Services, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Foster Parent Association, the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, the National Association of Social Workers, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will promote discussion among the various stakeholders about policies and procedures regarding the placement of children in temporary foster custody, whether with kin or non-kin foster custodians.

Your Committee has amended this measure to clarify its title and by adding the following stakeholders to the groups to be involved in the requested working group:

(5) The Hawaii Family Forum.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 68, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 68, S.D. 1.