CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 172

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 295

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 295, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Malama Ohana Working Group to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's existing child welfare system;

(2) Allow the Office of Wellness and Resilience to contract with an administrative facilitator to provide necessary support for the Malama Ohana Working Group;

(3) Require the Malama Ohana Working Group to report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025; and

(4) Appropriate funds for the Malama Ohana Working Group.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the problems faced by children and families in the State's child welfare system are extremely complex and cannot be resolved by the Department of Human Services alone. To address and resolve these diverse and multi-faceted problems, it is essential that the State work with the community and various stakeholders to determine solutions. This measure establishes a working group comprised of community members and stakeholders to develop recommendations to establish a child welfare system that is trauma-informed and responsive to the needs of children and families in the system and community.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the composition, membership, and co-chairs of the Malama Ohana Working Group;

(2) Removing language that would have appropriated funds for the Malama Ohana Working Group;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(4) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 295, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 295, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ BERTRAND KOBAYASHI Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair