STAND. COM. REP. NO. 353

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 225

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 225, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Grant the Department of Human Services flexibility in developing a comprehensive child welfare information system, as required by Act 317, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022; and

(2) Extend the lapse date for funds appropriated for the development of the comprehensive child welfare information system to June 30, 2024.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that Act 317, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022 (Act 317), required the Department of Human Services to develop a modern case management software solution that is compatible with existing child welfare technology. However, Act 317 requires the Department to work with a single provider, in contravention of the State's procurement laws. Your Committee further finds that extending the lapse date for the appropriation made by Act 317 will enable the Department to leverage available federal funds through a reimbursement model. This measure is intended to provide the Department of Human Services with the flexibility and funding it needs to develop a comprehensive child welfare information system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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 H.B. No. 225, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 225, H.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair