STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1268

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1779

      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 S.B. No. 1779 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the safety and well-being of Hawaii's children by establishing a two-year statewide task force to review, assess, and make recommendations on the State's system responses to cases of sexual crimes committed against and by children.

     The Department of Human Services, Honolulu Police Department, Friends of the Children's Justice Center of Maui, Inc., Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Child and Family Service, and Sex Abuse Treatment Center testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Education and Children's Justice Center supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee recognizes that Hawaii's children must be protected from many forms of abuse and exploitation and must be nurtured in the most stable environment available.  Thus, it is also important to address the needs of children by improving the law as it pertains to permanent guardianship of children who fall under the provisions of the Child Protective Act.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Inserting the provisions of H.B. No. 1357, H.D. 1, which allow the Family Court to pursue the option of legal guardianship for a child in appropriate cases; 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 S.B. No. 1779, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1779, 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