Report Title:
Child Welfare Services Employees; Civil Service Status
Description:
Grants civil service status to certain temporary exempt employees of the child welfare services branch, under the department of human services' social services division.
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
864 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to child welfare services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the child welfare services branch (CWS) under the department of human services provides program services to ensure the safety and permanency of children in their own homes, or, where necessary, in out-of-home placements. Over the last seven years, CWS cases have increased by thirty per cent, and the number of confirmed reports of child abuse or neglect increased by thirty-two per cent. A total of 4,827 children were in foster care during fiscal year 2001-2002, a ten per cent increase from the previous year.
As a result, the department created twenty-one case support services aide (CSA) positions and eight multi-agency case coordinator (MACC) positions within the child welfare services branch to provide additional support to CWS social workers in delivering essential work tasks. Ten exempt CSA positions were created under a child welfare services demonstration project in 1999, and the remaining exempt positions were created in response to a federal court order in 2000. Subsequently, the 2001 legislature authorized funding for thirty-one CSA and eight MACC positions.
Due to the temporary exempt status of these positions, however, the department has experienced high turnover, which has affected its ability to provide consistent, cost-effective services and to satisfy statutory and court-ordered mandates.
The purpose of this Act is to convert thirty-nine exempt positions within the child welfare services branch, under the department of human services' social services division, from temporary to permanent status.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 346-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and any other law to the contrary, the following temporary exempt positions within the child welfare services branch under the department of human services' social services division, shall be converted to civil service status and subject to chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes:
(1) Thirty-one case support services aide (CSA) positions; and
(2) Eight multi-agency case coordinator (MACC) positions.
SECTION 3. An employee of the State whose position is converted to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act shall become a civil service employee without the loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits or privileges, and without the necessity of examination; provided that the employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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