STAND. COM. REP. NO.  242-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2558

      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 Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2558 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct unannounced visits to a parental home in which a child lives where a member of the household has been convicted or adjudicated of certain child abuse or neglect offenses.

     DHS offered comments on this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Inserting provisions to establish a one-year Well Child Follow-up Visit Pilot Project (Pilot Project) that includes:

          (A)  Allowing DHS to visit with families who have been investigated by Child Welfare Services, on a case-by-case basis, subject to the appropriation of funds;

          (B)  Requiring DHS to submit reports on the Pilot Project prior to the Regular Sessions of 2009 and 2010; and

          (C)  Appropriating $1,000,000 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year for the Pilot Project;

          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 H.B. No. 2558, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2558, 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