STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3250

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2713

H.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. 2713, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADOPTION ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to provide additional support and resources to families receiving benefits through the State's adoption assistance and permanency assistance programs.

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

Your Committee finds that the Child Welfare Services Branch (CWS) of the Department of Human Services provides support for families statewide pursuing adoption or legal guardianship, and families that have attained such legal statuses through the State's child welfare system. However, certain children and families may experience trauma that can manifest at different points in life, including years after required support from CWS. Therefore, this measure provides additional support to families to strengthen parent-child relationships, enhance child development, and increase competence in parenting.

Your Committee notes that according to the Department of Human Services, approximately $600,000, for the purposes of this measure is already included in H.B. No. 1800, Regular Session of 2024, relating to the State Budget, which was passed by the House of Representative is currently scheduled to be head by your Committee on Ways and Means.

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. 2713, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair