STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1149-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2873

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 S.B. No. 2873 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ORDERS FOR IMMEDIATE PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the Department of Human Services' (Department) statutory duty to seek an order for immediate protection:

     (1)  Where the Department believes that a vulnerable adult has incurred abuse or is in danger of abuse if immediate action is not taken; or

     (2)  Where there is probable cause to believe that the vulnerable adult lacks the capacity to make such decisions.

     Specifically, this measure specifies that the Department may exercise its discretion in determining whether the provision of an order for immediate protection is necessary.

The Department supported this measure.

     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. 2873 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair