HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2424

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1) Expand the investigative power of the department of human services to include inspections of families who have adopted or been granted legal guardianship of a child; are receiving financial assistance through the State; have a guardianship of a child for whom there is a pending adoption petition and the child is pendente lite; or for whom an adoption decree has been issued but the child has not yet been placed in the custody of the adoption petitioner, and against whom have had a complaint filed against them with the department of human services;

     (2) Appropriate funds for additional case workers and support staff; and

     (3) Appropriate funds to increase compensation for existing child welfare services case worker positions.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-     Adoptive families and legal guardianship; authority over.  Any family that has adopted or received legal guardianship of a child for whom maintenance is provided pursuant to part E of title IV of the Social Security Act or through the state adoption assistance program pursuant to part XII of chapter 346, or is receiving financial assistance through the State's permanency assistance program, including adoptive families where an adoption decree is pending and the child is pendente lite or where an adoption decree has been issued but adoption has not yet taken place, shall be subject to review or investigation at any time and in a manner, place, and form as may be prescribed by the department or its authorized agents; provided that this review or investigation shall be limited only to families against whom a complaint has been lodged with the department at any time, including any time prior to the issuance of any adoption decree or granting of legal guardianship."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-301, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§346-301[]]  Adoption assistance program established[.]; review or investigation of program benefit recipients.  The department of human services shall maintain an adoption assistance program to facilitate the adoption of children with special needs.  Pursuant to section 346-   , families receiving benefits from the adoption assistance program and against whom a complaint has been lodged with the department of human services at any time shall be subject to review or investigation at any time and in a manner, place, and form as may be prescribed by the department or its authorized agents."

     SECTION 4.  The department of human services shall collect and analyze data to determine the impact of expanding home visits to families receiving adoption assistance or legal guardianship assistance and shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the hiring of            case workers and            support staff positions to provide annual or semi-annual in-home visits for families receiving adoption assistance or legal guardianship assistance.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to increase compensation to fill vacancies and retain employees in existing child welfare services case worker positions.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.

 



 

Report Title:

Foster Care; Adoption; Adoption Assistance; Investigation; Department of Human Services; Appropriation

 

Description:

Expands the investigative authority of the department of human services to include families with foster children with a pending adoption decree, foster children where an adoption decree has been issued but adoption has not yet taken place, children who are placed into legal guardianship and who receive permanency assistance payments, and adopted children who receive adoption assistance payments and against whom a complaint has been filed with the department of human services at any time, including any time prior to adoption or granting of legal guardianship.  Requires the department of human services to analyze and report on the impact of expanding home visits to families receiving adoption assistance or legal guardianship assistance and make a report to the legislature five years after the start of the program.  Appropriates funds for additional case worker and support staff positions and increased compensation for existing child welfare services case worker positions.  Effective 7/1/2060.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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