STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2889

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2539

       H.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2539, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADULT ABUSE PERPETRATOR CHECKS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require persons exempt from part VIII of chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, pursuant to section 346-152, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to agree to an adult abuse perpetrator check in order to be eligible to provide child care and to receive a child care subsidy from the Department of Human Services ("Department");

     (2)  Require the Department to develop standards, including the use of adult abuse perpetrator checks, to ensure the reputable and responsible character of an applicant to operate child care facilities, prospective employees of the applicant, and new employees of the provider;

     (3)  Require applicants to operate a child care facility and providers of care in a child care facility to submit statements to the Department indicating any previous abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult by the applicant or provider or any prospective employee thereof; and

     (4)  Authorize the Department to deny license or registration applications, request providers to terminate employment of new employees, or revoke a license or registration upon finding that the applicant or provider or any prospective employee thereof is confirmed to have abused or neglected a vulnerable adult.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services and Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children.

     Your Committee finds that the Department is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of children in regulated settings, such as licensed child care centers, and for child care providers who care for children and receive child care subsidies from the Department.  This measure will allow the Department to conduct a more thorough review of individuals who are working directly with children in licensed and legally exempt settings by identifying individuals who have a history of maltreatment of vulnerable individuals, including children and adults.

     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 H.B. No. 2539, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair