STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2915

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1576

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1576, H.D. 1, 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 address the insufficient monthly amount paid to foster care providers by increasing the monthly board rate for foster care services for children.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Family Programs Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and ten individuals.

     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 foster children.  Your Committee further finds that the monthly board rate has not been increased since 1990, which has made it difficult for the State to recruit and retain foster families.  Increasing the stipend for foster care will help meet the basic needs of foster children, increase the stability of foster children, and improve the matching of foster children with families of similar culture and values.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing references to group homes and child caring institutions; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2014.

     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. 1576, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1576, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair