STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2157

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3053

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 3053 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SIBLING VISITATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow the Department of Human Services and the prospective adoptive parent of a child to be adopted, to enter into an enforceable agreement providing for post adoptive contact between the child and the child's siblings; and

     (2)  Clarify the duties and responsibilities of a guardian of a minor ward to ensure that the ward who requests visitation is allowed on-going contact visitation with the ward's siblings.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services and Foster Family Programs of Hawai‘i.  Comments were received from the Judiciary.

     Your Committee finds that the removal of a child from the child's family is an extremely traumatic experience for any child.  The power of the sibling bond is a persistent theme in sibling studies.  In some cases, sibling relationships are more influential than any other, including those with parents.

     Your Committee believes that sibling visitation should be an integral part of the long-term permanent planning process for children adopted or having a guardian.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3053 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair