Bill Text: HI HCR162 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requesting The Hawaii State Judiciary And Department Of Human Services To Not Use Blindness As A Basis For Denying Parental Rights.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-04-10 - Referred to JDC/HMS. [HCR162 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HCR162-Amended.html
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
162 |
|
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO NOT USE BLINDNESS AS A BASIS FOR DENYING PARENTAL RIGHTS.
WHEREAS, blind individuals face certain preconceived biases and attitudes in family and dependency law proceedings where custody and visitation are at stake and in public and private adoption, guardianship, and foster care proceedings; and
WHEREAS, nationally some children of blind parents are unnecessarily being removed from their parents' care or restricted from enjoying meaningful time with their parents as a result of these preconceived biases and attitudes; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind estimates that as many as one in four households in which the parents are blind have been visited by workers from child protection services; and
WHEREAS, the safety of children must be balanced with respect for differences in religion, culture, ethnicity, race, disability, and sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, blindness itself does not preclude a parent's ability to raise kids; and
WHEREAS, blind parents use alternative techniques, which are variations on methods that are based on touch and hearing rather than sight, to accomplish some tasks; and
WHEREAS, there is research showing that children of blind parents can perform better, on average, than those with sighted parents in certain aspects; and
WHEREAS, thousands of blind parents have raised healthy children who have grown into responsible, productive adults; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii State Judiciary and Department of Human Services are requested to not use:
(1) A parent's blindness as a basis for denial or restriction of visitation or custody in family or dependency law cases when the visitation or custody is determined to be in the best interest of the child;
(2) A prospective parent's blindness as a basis for the prospective parent's denial of participation in public or private adoption when the adoption is determined to be in the best interest of the child; or
(3) An individual's blindness as a basis for denial of foster care or guardianship when the appointment is determined to be in the best interest of the child; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if a parent or prospective parent's blindness is alleged to have a detrimental impact on a child, the Hawaii State Judiciary and Department of Human Services are requested to:
(1) Place the burden of proof on the party raising the allegation by requesting evidence that the behaviors are endangering or will likely endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the child; and
(2) Provide the blind parent or prospective parent the opportunity to demonstrate how the implementation of supportive parenting services can alleviate any concerns that have been raised; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chief Justice, Administrative Director of the Courts, and Director of Human Services.
Right to Parent; Blind Person
