Bill > SB710

This bill establishes a Child Welfare Task Force within the Department of Human Services to develop strategies for transforming Hawaii's child welfare system, following findings from a 2024 state audit that revealed significant shortcomings in the system's operations. The task force will include key government officials such as the executive director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience (who will serve as chairperson), the Attorney General, the directors of Human Services and Human Resources Development, the Insurance Commissioner, and members of the previously established Malama Ohana Working Group. Task force members will serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for expenses, and they are required to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2026 regular legislative session. The bill is motivated by an April 2024 audit report that highlighted issues such as non-compliance with legal requirements for licensing child-specific homes and inadequate monitoring of contractors, which potentially put children at risk. An appropriation will be made from state general revenues to support the task force's work, and the act is set to take effect on December 31, 2050.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=710&year=2025