STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1404

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 398

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 398, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to collect and analyze data to determine the impact of expanding post‑permanency services to families receiving benefits from the adoption assistance program and report its findings to the Legislature; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the procurement of contracted services to provide additional support, resources, and monitoring of families receiving benefits from the State's Adoption Assistance Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that additional research is needed to better understand and prepare for an expansion of post-permanency services to families receiving benefits from the State Adoption Assistance Program. Your Committee further finds that this measure will provide funding for the Department of Human Services to assist in family strengthening and the maintenance of a safe home environment for adopted children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $8,000,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 398, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 398, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair