STAND. COM. REP. NO. 476

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 572

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 572 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require open hearings in family court child protective services matters unless the parent of the child determines that it is not in the best interest of the child, and further allows the parent to determine whether the presence of a non-lawyer advocate is in the best interest of the child.

Testimony in favor of this measure was submitted by four individuals. The Department of Human Services and Judiciary submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that currently a neutral judicial officer determines the best interest of a child during family court proceedings. Although the Department's and Judiciary's testimony take no position on the issue, your Committee feels that it is a legislative policy decision and has approved this measure in order to continue this important discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 572 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair