STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3202

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2425

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CENTRAL REGISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify that a confirmed report of child abuse or neglect, harm, or threatened harm will result in the perpetrator's name being maintained in the central registry; and

(2) Clarify when a person's name may be expunged from the central registry and establish a process for expungement upon request.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform.

Your Committee finds that, the current central registry of individuals confirmed to be perpetrators of child abuse or neglect retains listings of individuals indefinitely in the majority of cases. Being listed on the central registry can have serious consequences, including being barred from employment, volunteer opportunities, and adoption. Presently, the Department of Human Services utilizes a written Notice of Disposition that informs the individual identified as a potential perpetrator, upon completion of assessment of allegations of child abuse or neglect, that the allegation was confirmed or unconfirmed. Additional information is included if allegations are confirmed regarding placement on the central registry and the individual's right to challenge the results. However, the process to be placed on the registry and how that addition to the registry can be challenged are not commonly understood. Therefore, this measure clarifies the process of being placed on, and having one's name expunged from, the central registry to ensure departmental efficiency while protecting Hawaii's keiki.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a definition for the term "aggravated circumstances";

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2025; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair