STAND. COM. REP. NO.  409

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 524

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 524 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide foster youth who are subject to a permanent plan the opportunity to participate in permanent plan hearings.

     The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that DHS is only required to arrange for transportation, rather than provide transportation; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 524, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 524, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair