REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOME ACCESSIBILITY FOR PRIVATE-PAY INDIVIDUALS.

This bill asks Hawaii's Department of Human Services to create a task force that will study how to make community care foster family homes more accessible for private-pay individuals. Currently, state law generally limits these homes to one private-pay client at a time, with exceptions only for married couples or civil unions. The task force will examine ways to streamline application processes for couples and potentially allow unrelated private-pay individuals to live together in the same home. The group will include representatives from health services, care home organizations, and case management agencies, and must submit its recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. The bill also requests that the department publish annual statistics on applications from couples seeking to live together in these homes.