STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2096

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 295

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 295, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Malama Ohana Working Group within the Office of Wellness and Resilience to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's existing child welfare system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Office of the Governor; Hawai‘i Youth Services Network; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hale Kipa; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Nā Kama a Hāloa Network; EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.; Hale Naau Pono-Waianae Neighborhood Place; Family Programs Hawaii; Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Opportunity Youth Action Hawai‘i; ‘Ekolu Mea Nui; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 295, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 295, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair