THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2015

 

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSING

Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, Chair

Senator Josh Green, Vice Chair

 

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

 

DATE:

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

TIME:

1:20 pm

PLACE:

Conference Room 016

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A M E N D E D  A G E N D A

 

SB 271

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT.

Expands the definition of "aggravated circumstances", as used in chapter 587A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Child Protective Act, to include situations where the parent has provided unstable housing and is a repeat criminal offender of specific crimes; has been repeatedly incarcerated, resulting in the child's placement in foster care; has placed the child or a sibling of the child in foster care more than once; had parental rights voluntarily or involuntarily terminated; failed to comply with pre-permanency or permanency requirements; has physically abused the child; or the parent has engaged in human trafficking involving the child or another child of the parent or has solicited, aided, abetted, attempted, or conspired to engage in human trafficking of the child or another child of the parent.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 352

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO ADOPTION RECORDS.

Allows adopted individuals who have attained eighteen years of age unfettered access to the adopted individual's sealed adoption records.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 492

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CHILDREN.

Provides a means by which an unaccompanied minor may petition the family court for emancipation, and directs the court regarding investigation of the petition, appointing counsel for the petitioner, and the findings necessary to grant the petition.  Outlines the rights gained by the minor upon emancipation and jointly and severally obligates the parents to support the minor.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 494

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CHILD VISITATION.

Permits family courts to award reasonable visitation to primary caregivers under certain circumstances, regardless of whether the child has been formally adopted by the caregiver under Hawaii law.  Establishes presumption that a parent's decision regarding visitation is in the best interests of the child, which may be rebutted by evidence that denial would cause harm to the child.  Identifies factors a court may consider in awarding visitation.  Grants the court discretion to place reasonable restrictions, including time limitations, on visitation.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 714

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.

Requires both parents to pay child support if financial support for a child is ordered by the court and the child no longer resides full-time with the custodial parent.  Requires a petition for child support be made prior to the child reaching the age of majority unless there is clear and convincing evidence of hardship.  Mandates the suspension of child support payments for an adult child when the child turns nineteen if the custodial parent or adult child fails to provide proof the child is enrolled as a full-time student in school or has been accepted into and plans to attend as a full-time student for the upcoming semester.  Establishes that child support payments for an adult child who is pursuing education must be paid directly to the adult child.  Determines child support for an adult child pursuing education shall end if the adult child is not enrolled full-time or does not plan to attend full-time the upcoming semester or if the adult child fails to provide the payor with proof of full-time enrollment within fourteen days of the payor's request.  Grants payors of child support access to the adult child's enrollment records at post-secondary educational establishments.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 917

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO A SEX TRAFFICKING SPECIAL TREATMENT FACILITY.

Allows DHS to contract with a service provider to operate and manage a sex trafficking special treatment facility.  Provides for tax and fee exemptions.  Makes an appropriation.

 

HSH, JDL/WAM

 

[Measure deleted on 02-12-15]

SB 922

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT.

Mandates instead of permits a family court to terminate the parental rights to any child of a natural parent if the natural parent is convicted of rape or sexual assault and that rape or sexual assault resulted in the conception of the child.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 938

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO FAILURE TO REPORT A MISSING CHILD.

Establishes penalties for caregivers who fail to report the death or disappearance of a child to law enforcement or who provide false information to law enforcement authorities.

 

HSH, JDL

SB 390

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Removes certain unnecessary and redundant reporting responsibilities of the family courts and the Department of Human Services in cases where temporary restraining orders are sought for alleged domestic abuse involving a family or household member who is a minor or incapacitated person.

 

HSH, JDL

 

[Measure added on 02-12-15]

SB 1242

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO LITERACY.

Provides funding to the department of human services to establish a statewide literacy program utilizing local programs and nonprofits to provide direct services.

 

HSH, WAM

 

[Measure added on 02-12-15]

SB 899

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO THE KIDS' SAVINGS PROJECT.

Appropriates funds to continue the kids' savings project.

 

HEA/HSH, WAM

 

[Measure added on 02-12-15]

 


Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

 

Click here to submit testimony to the Senate Committee on Human Services and Housing.

 

Testimony may be submitted up to 24 hours prior to the start of the hearing.

 

FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored.  If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.

 

If you require auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e. ASL or foreign language interpreter, or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the committee clerk at least 24 hours prior to the hearing so that arrangements can be made.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808) 586-6130.

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland

Chair