Report Title:

Child Welfare Services

 

Description:

Adds definitions of "caregiver" and "safe home" to the Child Protective Act.  Clarifies that local customs of caring for children outside the family home by relatives and friends are, where appropriate, available alternatives to the department of human services and the court assuming custody of children.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

912

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The federal Child and Family Services Review of Hawaii's child welfare system recommends the use of culturally sensitive and family strengthening diversion and other supportive services to improve the safety and well-being of children and families.  This Act seeks to comply with the Child and Family Services Review's recommendations by clarifying that local customs of caring for children outside of the family home by relatives and friends and other diversion and supportive services are, where appropriate, available alternatives to the department of human services and the court assuming custody of children.  This will ensure that no child is taken into custody unnecessarily and will preserve the relationships that are important to every child's well-being.

     SECTION 2.  Section 587-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Caregiver" means an adult who is not the child's legal and physical custodian but with whom a child has been residing for at least six months with the verbal or written consent of the child's legal and physical custodian.  A "caregiver" is outside the formal child welfare system, and shall not apply to situations involving voluntary placement or court order.

     "Safe home" means a home, other than the family home, where a child has resided with the consent of the child's legal and physical custodian, and where a caregiver has demonstrated a willingness and ability to provide a home where the child is not subject to harm or threatened harm, as determined by the department.  A "safe home" is outside the formal child welfare system, and shall not apply to situations involving voluntary placement or court order."

     SECTION 3.  Section 587-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Upon satisfying itself as to the course of action that should be pursued to best accord with the purpose of this chapter, the department shall:

     (1)  Close the matter if the department finds, after an assessment, that the child is residing with an appropriate caregiver who is willing and able to provide a safe home for the child;

    [(1)] (2)  Resolve the matter in an informal fashion appropriate under the circumstances;

    [(2)] (3)  Seek to enter into a service plan, without filing a petition in court, with members of the child's family and other authorized agency as the department deems necessary to the success of the service plan, including the member or members of the child's family who have legal custody of the child.  The service plan may include an agreement with the child's family to voluntarily place the child in the foster custody of the department or other authorized agency, provided that placement preference shall be given to an appropriate relative identified by the department, or to place the child and the necessary members of the child's family under the family supervision of the department or other authorized agency; provided further that if a service plan is not successfully completed within six months, the department shall file a petition or ensure that a petition is filed by another appropriate authorized agency in court under this chapter and the case shall be reviewed as is required by federal law;

    [(3)] (4)  Assume temporary foster custody of the child pursuant to section 587-24(a) and file a petition with the court under this chapter within three working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, after the date of the department's assumption of temporary foster custody of the child; provided that placement preference shall be given to an appropriate relative identified by the department; or

    [(4)] (5)  File a petition or [ensure that a petition is filed by] refer the matter to another appropriate authorized agency who may file a petition for jurisdiction of the child in court under this chapter."

     SECTION 4.  Section 587-22, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  A police officer shall assume protective custody of the child without a court order and without the consent of the child's family regardless of whether the child's family is absent, if in the discretion of the police officer, the child is in such circumstance or condition that the child's continuing in the custody or care of the child's family presents a situation of imminent harm to the child.

     A police officer may assume protective custody of the child without a court order and without the consent of the child's family regardless of whether the child's family is absent, if in the discretion of the police officer:

     (1)  The child has no legal custodian or appropriate caregiver who is willing and able to provide a safe family home for the child; or

     (2)  There is evidence that the parent or legal guardian of the child has subjected the child to harm or threatened harm and that the parent or legal guardian is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court with the child."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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By Request