STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1453

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 947

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 947, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the disability of a parent or caregiver from being the sole factor in determining fitness as a foster parent, adoptive parent, guardian, parent seeking custody or visitation, or provider of a safe family home.

The Disability and Communication Access Board, Aloha State Association of the Deaf, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and a few individuals supported this measure. The Department of Human Services provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 947, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 947, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

______________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair