STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1190-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2730

      S.D. 2

      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 S.B. No. 2730, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a preference for certain relatives, lawe hanai, or hanai parents for out-of-home placement of children involved in child protective proceedings.

     The Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Partners In Development Foundation, Na Tutu, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, EPIC Ohana Conferencing, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Foster Family Programs of Hawaii supported this measure with amendments.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Amending the definition of "relative" by deleting lawe hanai parents, changing "hanai parent" to "hanai relative", and including relatives by adoption, and making other clarifying changes;

     (2)  Adding a definition for "hanai relative";

     (3)  Requiring DHS to provide an application to a relative inquiring about child placement within 15 days of the inquiry; and

     (4)  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 S.B. No. 2730, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2730, S.D. 2, 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