STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1397

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 240

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 240 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING THE BOARD PAYMENT RATE FOR FOSTER BOARDING HOME PARENTS, GROUP HOMES, AND CHILD CARING INSTITUTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Human Services to engage in a feasibility study to increase the board payment rate for foster boarding parents, group homes, and child caring institutions in the State over a period of five years.  In doing this study, the Department of Human Services should also consider establishing a scaled schedule of board payment rates that take into account varying levels of difficulty in providing care within the following age ranges:

     1)   From birth to age five;

     2)   From age six to age twelve; and

3)   From age thirteen to time of termination from foster care;

     Your Committee finds that the current board payment rate for foster boarding parents, group homes, and child caring institutions in Hawaii was last set in 1990.  The current board payment rate was also not adjusted for inflation, which since then has risen sixty-six percent.  This low standard foster board payment rate makes Hawaii continue to experience a shortage of foster families, as well as retaining the current foster parents.  Therefore, this will be a positive step in reducing these concerns.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 240 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair