Bill Text: HI SCR169 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Hawaii State Legislature Keiki Caucus; Legacy Coalition; Form a Working Group Relating to Native Hawaiian Children

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-01 - Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDL. [SCR169 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-SCR169-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	169
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Department of human services to consult the na kupuna tribunal to form a working group to determine how the na kupuna tribunal can best assist the courts and native hawaiian children in matters relating to child custody and native Hawaiian children who have been removed from their homes.

 

 

     WHEREAS, one of the most vital resources to Native Hawaiians are their children; and

 

     WHEREAS, it has been reported that approximately fifty percent of the foster care cases under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services involve Native Hawaiian families; and

 

     WHEREAS, the practice of hanai exists within the Native Hawaiian culture to address the foster care of children; and

 

     WHEREAS, various regional groups' kupuna have organized the Na Kupuna Tribunal to represent them as a whole; and

 

     WHEREAS, kupuna groups have assisted in family court matters involving the foster care and hanai of Native Hawaiian children; and

 

     WHEREAS, kupuna groups do not presently have an official role in family court matters involving the foster care and hanai of Native Hawaiian children; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Na Kupuna Tribunal has demonstrated success in past experiences of assisting family courts, in Hawaii and on the mainland, in matters regarding the foster care and hanai of Native Hawaiian children; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that it is worthwhile to determine how the Na Kupuna Tribunal may best assist family courts in matters of the foster care and hanai of Native Hawaiian children; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Na Kupuna Tribunal, is requested to convene a working group to:

 

     (1)  Determine how the Na Kupuna Tribunal can best assist the courts and Child Protective Services regarding the placement of Native Hawaiian children who have been removed from their homes;

 

     (2)  Determine how the Na Kupuna Tribunal can best assist Native Hawaiian children who have been removed from their homes; and

 

     (3)  Review the manner in which courts handle child custody cases involving Native Hawaiian children; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group include representatives of various stakeholders, including:

 

     (1)  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

 

     (2)  The Hawaii Foster Parent Association;

 

     (3)  The Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition;

 

     (4)  The Hawaii Youth Services Network;

 

     (5)  The Attorney General, or designee;

 

     (6)  Hawaii Community Action Program, Leeward District;

 

     (7)  Na Kupuna O Wai‘anae;

 

     (8)  The Legacy Coalition;

 

     (9)  Na Kupuna O Kahana;

 

    (10)  Na Kupuna O Kekaha;

 

    (11)  Na Kupuna O Maku‘u;

 

    (12)  Hawaii State Bar Association;

 

    (13)  EPIC Ohana;

 

    (14)  Partners in Development Foundation;

 

    (15)  Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center;

 

    (16)  Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs;

 

    (17)  Honolulu Police Department, Wai‘anae community liaison; and

 

    (18)  Any other individual or organization the Department of Human Services deems necessary; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016 on the findings and recommendations of the working group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be terminated upon adjournment sine die of the Regular Session of 2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court; Attorney General; Director of Human Services; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii Foster Parent Association; Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Hawaii Community Action Program, Leeward District; Na Kupuna O Wai‘anae; The Legacy Coalition; Na Kupuna O Kahana; Na Kupuna O Kekaha; Na Kupuna O Maku‘u; Hawaii State Bar Association; EPIC Ohana; Partners in Development Foundation; Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; and Honolulu Police Department Wai‘anae community liaison.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Human Services; Na Kupuna Tribunal; Form a Working Group Relating to Native Hawaiian Children