STAND. COM. REP. NO.  283-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2051

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION FOR FOSTER CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide educational stability to foster children by:

     (1)  Establishing guidelines for school placement that are in the best interests of the child;

     (2)  Ensuring that foster children receive services comparable to those provided to children who reside in the school district, including transportation services; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds to provide transportation services for foster children.

     The Department of Education, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.  The Judiciary offered comments.

     Your Committee recognizes that this measure could have a large fiscal impact on the State, and defers to the Committee on Finance in this regard.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair