STAND. COM. REP. NO. 112

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 39

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 39 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY AS "FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH", A TIME TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF FOSTER CARE, INCLUDING FOSTER PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to recognize the month of May as "Foster Care Awareness Month" to educate the public about the various components of foster care, including foster parents, children, and families.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee recognizes the significant impact of foster care on the physical, mental, and emotional development of foster children, and supports the designation of the month of May as "Foster Care Awareness Month" to promote greater public awareness of the foster care program.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 39, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 39, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair