STAND. COM. REP. NO. 523

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 112

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 112 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHILDREN'S JUSTICE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make Children's Justice Program records confidential, subject to exceptions for coordinating agency staff, health professionals, and the courts.

     The Children's Justice Program promotes the sharing of information among different agencies that provide services to children and their families.  Much of this information is personal in nature and should not be subject to public release under chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  This measure requires all records used or developed by the Children's Justice Program to remain confidential, subject to exceptions for program and coordinating agency staff, medical and mental health professionals, and the courts.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 112 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair