STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3257

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 102

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.C.R. No. 102 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO NOT USE BLINDNESS AS A BASIS FOR DENYING PARENTAL RIGHTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Judiciary and Department of Human Services to not use blindness as a basis for denying parental rights in regard to child welfare, foster care, family law, and adoption.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Young Progressives Demanding Action, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, Progressive Democrats of Hawai‘i, Oahu Intertribal Council, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, Disability and Communication Access Board, and Hawaii Family Advocacy Team.

Your Committee finds that blind individuals often face certain preconceived biases and attitudes throughout their lives, especially during family and dependency law proceedings where custody and visitation are at stake and in public and private adoption, guardianship, and foster care proceedings. Your Committee further finds that roughly one in four households in which a parent is blind have been visited by child protection services. Your Committee recognizes that blindness itself does not preclude a parent's ability to raise a child to become a responsible and productive adult. This measure seeks to ensure that individuals who are blind have the same opportunity as individuals who are not blind to serve as parents and care for their children.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 102 and recommends that it 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