STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1013

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 912

      S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 912, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERMANENCY HEARINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure compliance with federal Title IV-E permanency hearing requirements by:

     (1)  Requiring that a permanency hearing be held within 12 months of a child's initial date of entry into out-of-home care or within 30 days of a judicial determination that a child is an abandoned infant or that aggravated circumstances are present;

     (2)  Requiring that the status of the child be reviewed at least every 12 months thereafter to determine whether the child is receiving appropriate services, that case plans are being properly implemented, and that plans are made that will lead to permanent placement; and

     (3)  Delineating permanency hearing procedures.

     The Department of Human Services supported this bill.  The Judiciary provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 912, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair