STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2263

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2097

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2097 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize child abuse and neglect investigation findings for incidents occurring in licensed group child care homes or group child care centers to be disclosed to parents or guardians of children enrolled in the home or center at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect or to parents or guardians considering enrolling their children in the home or center; and

(2) Authorize the disclosure of an investigation involving a finding of a felony or misdemeanor to any person upon request.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Parents and Children Together, Sounds of Success Preschool & Learning Center, Rainbow Family 808, and thirteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that child care facilities play a significant role in the development and growth of a child. Your Committee further finds that parents place a significant amount of trust in child care facilities to ensure that their children are safe and should have access to certain information when selecting a child care facility. Your Committee notes that authorizing the disclosure of child abuse and neglect investigation findings will provide beneficial input to parents and guardians when selecting a safe child care provider and facility.

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. 2097 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,

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JOSH GREEN, Chair