STAND. COM. REP. NO.  965-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2051

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, 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 for 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 the Hawaii Foster Parent Association supported this bill.  The Department of Human Services and Judiciary submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that parents and/or legal guardians be consulted when making decisions on where a foster child is to be enrolled for school;

     (2)  In lieu of specifying that the Family Court be consulted when making decisions on where a foster child is to be enrolled for school, establishing that, if necessary, the Family Court, where it has jurisdiction, has the authority to make the final decision on this matter;

     (3)  Including children who are under the jurisdiction of the Family Court and temporarily or permanently placed outside of the home, within the scope of this bill;

     (4)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     Your Committee notes that the Committee on Judiciary must re-examine this bill, as amended.

     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 H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair