STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1046

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1099

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1099, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to bring Hawaii into compliance with the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and the federal Child Abuse and Prevention and Treatment Act of 2010 by:

(1)  Including sex trafficking and severe forms of trafficking in persons within the definition of "child abuse or neglect";

(2)  Clarifying that reports that are expunged from the Department of Human Services' (Department) central registry of reported child abuse or neglect cases may be retained by the Department for future risk and safety assessment purposes; and

(3)  Deleting the expungement criterion of unsubstantiated reports and replacing it with the criterion of unconfirmed reports.

The Department of Human Services, Honolulu Police Department, IMUAlliance, UNITE!, Family Programs Hawaii, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Harm Reduction Community and Hawaii Family Advocacy Team and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  A concerned individual submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1099, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair