REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF CREATING AN OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE.

This Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Human Services to study the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the Child Advocate to oversee the state's child welfare system. The bill is prompted by recent high-profile cases of child abuse in foster care and previous findings that the department failed to properly license foster homes, leading to lawsuits and lost federal funding. The study would examine how an independent oversight office could conduct site visits, investigate complaints, review internal records, and issue recommendations to improve child safety and accountability. The department must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by the end of 2026.