STAND. COM. REP. NO.1079-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.R. No. 83

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 83 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO EXPAND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHILD PROTECTIVE REVIEW PANEL AND TO CONVENE A PANEL IF A CHILD IS MISSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Department of Human Services (DHS) to continue its efforts to prevent child abuse by:

(1) Encouraging the active participation of individuals who are active in the systemic reform of Hawaii's Child Welfare System (CWS) as appointed members of the Child Protective Review Panel (Panel) or as consultants to the Panel; and

(2) Convening a Panel to review active child welfare cases when a child is missing and cannot be located; and

(3) Amending the definition of "serious abuse" to include children who are missing.

DHS supported the intent of this measure. Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) supported this measure with amendments.

Your Committee finds that child abuse is a serious problem that requires broad-based community action. VLSH's testimony states that there is a need to expand the public's oversight of Child Protective Services and that public disclosure of information is necessary.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the title to read: "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN CASES OF RECURRING CHILD MALTREATMENT OR CASES WITH SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES";

(2) Expanding the discussion on the Panel and whether it has resulted in any significant impact on reducing the recurrence of child abuse;

(3) Urging DHS to promote public oversight of Child Protective Services in cases of recurrent child maltreatment or cases with suspicious circumstances, including when an abused child is missing;

(4) Requesting DHS to appoint to the Panel, when feasible, at least one individual who is active in the systemic reform of the CWS;

(5) Requesting DHS to convene a Panel for all child welfare cases in which a child is missing and cannot be located;

(6) Requesting DHS to submit a report to the Legislature;

(7) Requesting DHS to keep the names of minors and information confidential; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 83, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 83, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

____________________________

MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair