STAND. COM. REP. NO.  975

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1340

      S.D. 2

      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 S.B. No. 1340, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support Hawaii's youth in foster care by establishing the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care Program extending services to provide care and supervision of eligible foster youth until their twenty-first birthday.

The Department of Human Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hale Kipa, Family Programs Hawaii, West Hawaii HI H.O.P.E.S Youth Leadership Board, East Hawaii HI H.O.P.E.S Youth Leadership Board, Oahu HI H.O.P.E.S Youth Leadership Board, Kauai HI H.O.P.E.S Youth Leadership Board, Maui HI H.O.P.E.S Youth Leadership Board, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure. The Judiciary supported this measure with amendments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that youth involved in the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care Program have the right to choose whether they want to be present at all court hearings and reviews and to address the court during those hearings; 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 S.B. No. 1340, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1340, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair