Report Title:

Child Abuse or Neglect; Unannounced Visits for Inspection

Description:

Authorizes department of human services to conduct unannounced visits to inspect a parental home within 3 to 6 months of the return of a child against whom a household member of the parental home has committed a misdemeanor or felony offense relating to child abuse or neglect or has been adjudicated of conduct that would constitute such an offense.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2558
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to child PROTECTION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-  Child abuse or neglect; unannounced departmental inspection visits; when. (a)  Beginning July 1, 2008, the department is authorized to conduct one or more unannounced visits to the parental home in which a child lives:

(1) If a member of the household in which the child lives has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense relating to child abuse or neglect against the child or adjudicated for conduct that would constitute such an offense under section 571-11(1); and

(2) When the child has been returned to that parental home for at least three months but not more than six months,

to conduct interviews and to inspect the conditions within the parental home for signs or evidence of further actual or potential child abuse or neglect, as defined in section 350‑1 to ensure the well being of the child.

(b)  The inspector shall prepare a written report upon completion of the interviews and inspection.  If, in the opinion of the inspector:

(1) The child is in imminent harm, the report shall be referred for immediate action by the department;

(2) The inspection is inconclusive, a follow up inspection shall be conducted no later than twenty-one days thereafter; or

(3) The child is in no danger of harm or imminent harm, no further action shall be taken.

(c)  For purposes of this section, "convicted" means judgment has been entered against a person on a verdict or a finding of guilty or on a plea of guilty or nolo contendere."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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