STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2973

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2245

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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2245, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify certain definitions under the Child Protective Act;

(2) Authorize the child's family to consent to protective custody or temporary foster custody of a child;

(3) Clarify the circumstances when police officers shall assume protective custody of a child and when the Department of Human Services shall assume temporary foster custody of the child; and

(4) Authorize the Department of Human Services to file a petition and seek an order for protective custody if there is reasonable cause to believe that a child is subject to imminent harm.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Judiciary, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform, Hawaii Family Advocacy Group, and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that protecting the health and safety of the State's children is of the utmost importance. Certain situations in which the child is in imminent danger may necessitate emergency action, including assumption of temporary custody of a child by a police department or temporary foster placement. This measure ensures the safety of the child by providing a way to remove the child from a dangerous situation in some circumstances.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2245, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair