STAND. COM. REP. NO. 578

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1291

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1291, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT COURT PROCEEDINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that Child Protective Act hearings held in accordance with chapter 587A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are consistent with federal Social Security Act Title IV-E provisions so that Hawaii remains eligible for approximately $40,000,000 in annual federal funding.   

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Judiciary, Department of the Attorney General, and Department of Human Services. 

     Your Committee finds that it is necessary to make technical, clarifying changes to chapter 587A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to further ensure consistency in practice and compliance with federal Title IV-E requirements and to remove any unintended ambiguity under current state law. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to allow for further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1291, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1291, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair