STAND. COM. REP. NO. 949

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1022

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1022, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the effectiveness of the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services.

Specifically, this measure establishes a child welfare services task force to review the Child Welfare Services Branch and examine best practices that will help to improve child care safety through the branch.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the East Hawaii Friends of Foster Families, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that the task force established by this measure will address ongoing concerns about the Child Welfare Services Branch and make recommendations to improve the branch and provide necessary protection for the State's children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Department of Human Services shall invite a representative of the United States Department of Defense Family Advocacy program to serve on the task force;

(2) Clarifying that the task force shall propose improvements to allow for the timely completion of future investigations of child abuse by the child welfare services branch;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1022, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1022, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair