STAND. COM. REP. NO. 230-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2713

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2713 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADOPTION ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to provide additional support and resources for families receiving benefits through the State's adoption assistance and permanency assistance programs.

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

Your Committee finds that all children in the foster care system have experienced trauma, either from abuse or neglect from their families or from the removal process. Even after a child has been placed in permanent custody through adoption or guardianship, there is still a need to provide ongoing support to their caregivers. Your Committee further finds that this measure will provide additional means to support these children and their caregivers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 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. 2713, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2713, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair