STAND. COM. REP. NO.  472

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 986

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 986 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOSTER CARE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the monthly board rate for foster care services, including by making an appropriation to the Department of Human Services.

Family Programs Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of the measure.  The Department of Human Services testified in support of the intent of the measure.

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Human Services provided oral testimony that it is willing to assess the feasibility of adjusting the monthly board rates to a tiered system approach that considers the type of foster placement and associated board expenses, and submit a report to the legislature.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate more discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 986, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 986, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair