Hawaii Senate Bill SR143

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

Requesting The Auditor To Conduct A Program Audit Of The State's Child Protective Services System.

Impact

The audit aims to assess various aspects of the child protective services system, including communication between agencies, adequacy of training for staff in identifying abuse and neglect, and the manageability of caseloads. Furthermore, the audit will examine the resources available to each agency and evaluate the effectiveness of decision-making processes related to screening, case selection, and child safety. The findings and recommendations from the audit will be submitted to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025, setting the stage for potential reforms.

Summary

Senate Resolution 143 (SR143) requests the Hawaii Auditor to conduct a comprehensive program audit of the state's child protective services system. The resolution emphasizes the importance of ensuring the wellbeing, safety, and stability of Hawaii's children and families. It notes the involvement of several state and county agencies in the child protective services system, highlighting a recent report indicating over ten thousand cases of child abuse reported between 2017 and 2021. High-profile cases of child abuse have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the system and the potential failures that led to these tragedies.

Contention

While the resolution intends to improve the state's child protective services, it may face contention from various stakeholders regarding the methodologies and findings of the audit. Discussions may arise about the effectiveness of the existing system and what changes should be prioritized. Concerns regarding the implementation of recommendations may also emerge, as various agencies and stakeholders might have differing perspectives on child welfare issues. The engagement with national entities and local stakeholders aims to provide a well-rounded view, potentially mitigating some points of contention.