HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2424
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Expand the investigative powers of the department of human services to include review and investigation of families that receive benefits from the State's adoption assistance program and against whom a post‑adoption complaint has been made;

(2) Require the department of human services to report to the legislature before the convening of the regular session of 2024 on the impact of expanding post‑permanency services to families receiving benefits from the adoption assistance program; and

(3) Appropriate funds to increase the procurement of contracted services to provide additional support, resources, and monitoring of post-permanency services.

SECTION 2. Section 346-301, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§346-301[]] Adoption assistance program established[.]; review or investigation of program benefit recipients. The department of human services shall maintain an adoption assistance program to facilitate the adoption of children with special needs. Pursuant to this section, families receiving benefits from the adoption assistance program and against whom a post-adoption complaint has been made with the department of human services shall be subject to review or investigation in a manner, place, and form as may be prescribed by the department or its authorized agents in accordance with chapters 350 and 587A."

SECTION 3. The department of human services shall collect and analyze data to determine the impact of expanding post‑permanency services to families receiving benefits from the adoption assistance program and shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the procurement of contracted services to provide additional support, resources, and monitoring of families receiving benefits from the State's adoption assistance program, for the purposes of assisting with family strengthening and the maintenance of a safe home environment for adopted children.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

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

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.

Report Title:

DHS; Foster Care; Adoption; Adoption Assistance; Review; Investigation; Post-permanency Services; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Expands the investigative powers of the Department of Human Services to include review and investigation of families that receive benefits from the State's adoption assistance program, against whom a post-adoption complaint has been made. Requires the Department of Human Services to report to the Legislature before the convening of the Regular Session of 2024 on the impact of expanding post-permanency services to families receiving benefits from the adoption assistance program. Appropriates funds to increase the procurement of contracted services to provide additional support, resources, and monitoring of post-permanency services. Effective 7/1/2060. (SD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.