STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1860-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2790

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2790, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide greater rights for children in foster care. Specifically, this measure replaces the guiding principles for children in foster care under the Child Protective Act with the rights of children in foster care, which preserves the current rights of children in foster care and provides certain additional rights.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Health, Department of Education, The Judiciary, Hawaii Children's Action Network, EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc., Hawaii Youth Services Network, Family Programs Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, McKinley Community School for Adults, Hale Kipa, Inc., and many concerned individuals supported this measure. The Department of Human Services provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2790, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair