STAND. COM. REP. NO. 663

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 59

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 59 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the monthly board rate for foster care services for children.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hale Opio Kauai, Inc., and four individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Youth Services Network.

     Your Committee finds that the current monthly board rate for children in foster care is $529 and that this amount is insufficient to cover the costs of care, food, housing, and other necessities for the foster children.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure is necessary to cover the increased living costs for children in the foster care system.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 59, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 59, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair