The Department of Human Services could conduct unannounced child welfare visits to homes in which a household member had been convicted or stood trial for child abuse or neglect within the past five years, under a bill that passed the state House today.

Lawmakers used the tragic death of Cyrus Belt, a 1-year-old thrown from a freeway overpass, to illustrate the need for additional monitoring of children from troubled families.

State Rep. Colleen Meyer, (R-47th, Ha'iku, Kahalu'u, La'ie), raised reservations about the cost of the measure, which the administration has estimated at about $6 million, but the measure passed unanimously.

It will now cross over to the Senate for consideration.