STAND. COM. REP. NO.  446

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 798

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 798 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to recognize and respect Hawaiian culture and the system of hanai when adopting rules relating to foster care licensing processes.

 

     Kokua Ohana and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DHS supported the intent of this measure.  The Partners in Development Foundation testified in opposition to this bill.

 

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Allowing DHS to consider, rather than requiring, the recognition of Hawaiian culture and hanai relationships when adopting rules relating to foster care licensing processes;

 

     (2)  Adding definitions for "caregiver" and "safe home" to the Child Protective Act;

 

     (3)  Adding provisions directing DHS to consider willing and able caregivers in child custody matters;

 

     (4)  Adjusting statistics to match current figures as supplied by DHS; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 798, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 798, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair