STAND. COM. REP. NO. 655

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 295

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 295, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys for a Malama Ohana Working Group within the Governor's Office of Wellness and Resilience to recommended changes to the State's child welfare system.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Wellness and Resilience; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Converge Consulting, Training, and Research; EPIC Ohana, Inc.-HI HOPES Initiative; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that the working group established by this measure will bring together invested partners, community members, and persons with lived experience to help address shortcomings in the State's existing child welfare system.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Human Services requested in its written comments that the working group be exempt from part I of Chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the executive director of EPIC Ohana, Inc., or the executive director's designee and the chief executive officer of Hale Kipa, Inc., or the chief executive officer's designee, shall be invited to participate in the working group and serve as co-chairs of the working group; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 295, S.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.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair