STAND. COM. REP. NO. 413-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2277

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2277 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure the safety and well-being of at-risk children and families in East Hawaii on Hawaii Island by:

(1) Establishing a five-year pilot project within the Department of Human Services that limits the number of children supervised by each East Hawaii child welfare services section social worker to twenty or fewer; and

(2) Appropriating funds for eight full-time equivalent case managers and fifteen full-time equivalent support staff positions in the East Hawaii child welfare services section on Hawaii Island as part of the pilot project.

The Department of Human Services, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Winners' Camp Foundation, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Epic ‘Ohana, Inc., Friends of Foster Families, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. A concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee notes that this pilot project is sorely needed for the Island of Hawaii where geographical challenges pose a problem for the adequate delivery of services for at-risk children and families.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to facilitate further discussion; 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 Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2277, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2277, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair