STAND. COM. REP. NO.  57-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1585

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1585 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GUARDIANSHIP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the law relating to guardianships of incapacitated adults by prohibiting appointed guardians of a ward from restricting the personal communication rights of the ward, including the right to receive visitors, telephone calls, and personal mail.

The Catherine Falk Organization and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by allowing the guardian of a ward discretion to restrict the personal communication rights of the ward if the personal communication poses a risk to the safety and well-being of the ward.

     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. 1585, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1585, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair