STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1072

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 777

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 777, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Human Services to conduct comprehensive background checks on current or prospective employees; volunteers; contractors; and contractors' employees, agents, and volunteers whose position places or would place them in close proximity to certain minors, young adults, or vulnerable adults.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure would help to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable populations in the State by expanding the scope of background checks performed by the Department of Human Services on individuals working with or in close proximity to individuals receiving services from the Department who may be at risk.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the term "agents" is not clearly defined under the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center chapter and may be considered overly broad.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring background checks on subcontractors and subcontractors' employees and volunteers, instead of contractors' agents; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 777, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 777, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair