STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2363

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2848
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2848 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PERMANENT PLAN HEARING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the family court, at
a permanent plan hearing for child abuse cases, to dispense with
a child's consent to the proposed permanent plan.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Human Services (DHS).

     This measure clarifies the duties of the court in reviewing
a proposed permanent plan by the DHS.  The DHS is the usual
agency that prepares a permanent plan for court approval in cases
of child abuse.  The intent of this measure is to allow the court
to act in the best interest of the child, since not all children
are capable of fully understanding a permanent plan for their
well-being.  This measure requires the court to first consult
privately with the child before it decides to dispense with the
child's consent.

     This measure alleviates the necessity that the child testify
openly in court as to the child's preferences, which can be
embarrassing, and mentally and emotionally damaging to the child.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2363
                                   Page 2


report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2848 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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