Bill Text: HI HCR162 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Incarcerated Parents; Additional Information and Training by DPS

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-29 - (H) Resolution adopted in final form. [HCR162 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HCR162-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3239

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 162

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 162 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION TO INCARCERATED PARENTS TO ENSURE CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED WITHOUT DELAY AND UPON RELEASE, TO PREPARE THEM FOR REINTEGRATION WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING GRANDPARENTS WHO HAVE RAISED THEIR CHILDREN,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to direct the Department of Public Safety to:

 

     (1)  Make mandatory its existing program for preparing soon-to-be-released parents to deal with life issues, and enhance that program by including information and training to help them assume their parental responsibilities;

 

     (2)  Inform parents being incarcerated that it is the parent's responsibility to contact the respective court in reference to child support obligations and to inform the court of the parent's inability to pay child support due to incarceration; and

 

     (3)  Submit a report to the Legislature on the actions it has taken pursuant to this measure no later than twenty days before the convening of the 2011 Regular Session.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one State Representative.  Testimony in opposition was received from one state department.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     As a result of the work of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving, Act 11, Special Session Law of Hawaii 2008, established a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force to assess and report on the needs and issues of grandparents raising grandchildren.  The final report generated by the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force found that children with an incarcerated parent often have problems related to the incarceration.  Moreover, in addition to the reintegration difficulties faced by most incarcerated persons upon release, incarcerated parents often have difficulty assuming their parental responsibilities and reconnecting not only with their children, but with family members and others who have been providing care to their children.  The Task Force also found that incarcerated parents do not understand their rights and responsibilities regarding child support payments, including their responsibility to inform the court of their incarceration and corresponding inability to pay child support.

 

Your Committees find that despite the economic climate that has resulted in a reduction of services by the Department of Public Safety, parents still require education and information upon intake and release.  Accordingly, the provision of education and information, as requested by this measure, will clearly improve outcomes for all.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 162, and recommend its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Human Services,

 

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair		____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair