STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1909

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1779

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1779, H.D. 2, 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:

     (1)  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; and

     (2)  Allowing the Family Court to pursue the option of legal guardianship for a child, in appropriate cases.

     The Department of Human Services, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, and Children's Alliance of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General and Children's Justice Center provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing all appropriations;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1779, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1779, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair