Posted on: Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Child welfare hearings can be open

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

For the first time, Family Court judges may open child welfare hearings to the public, under a bill Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law yesterday.

House Bill 1980 allows for open hearings in child welfare matters if a judge determines that doing so would be in the best interest of the child. The bill also allows parents to bring a non-lawyer advocate to hearings, unless a judge decides that would not be in the child's best interest.

The measure aims to address many of the perceived problems with the child welfare system and "carefully balance the desire for increased transparency and accountability with the interests of children and families," according to a conference committee report on the bill.

Lingle also signed into law yesterday a bill requiring the state Department of Human Services to seek federal grants to enhance the medical treatment of drug-addicted newborns and services for their families. Human services director Lillian Koller said, "It emphasizes and makes us pay attention to those who are the most vulnerable: the newborns who are drug-affected."

Lingle also signed:

• House Bill 680, which requires ethics training for all state elected officials and executive department heads and deputies.
• House Bill 1904, which increases the allowable income tax deduction for National Guard members and reservists over five years, beginning in 2005.
• Senate Bill 2606, which allows brewpubs to sell brewery-sealed containers of beer manufactured on the premises for consumption off premises.
• House Bill 2074, which ensures that waivers or reductions of penalties for small businesses will not apply to any laws protecting the environment or cultural resources.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.