REPORT TITLE:
Appropriation; DV Court


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds to family court to establish a dedicated
domestic violence court and to provide related domestic violence
services.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            589         
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that domestic violence
 
 2 continues to be the greatest threat to the safety and welfare of
 
 3 families in our community.  Between 1992 and 1997, domestic
 
 4 violence homicides made up 24.3 per cent of the total number of
 
 5 homicides in Hawaii.  Further, among women who are murdered in
 
 6 Hawaii, the majority are killed as a result of a dispute
 
 7 involving someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.
 
 8 The legislature further finds that while arrests for domestic
 
 9 violence have increased over the past decade, the conviction rate
 
10 remains at about thirty per cent.  Without a conviction, neither
 
11 the offender nor the victim can receive court-ordered domestic
 
12 violence intervention services which can help them break the
 
13 cycle of violence.  Thus, the purpose of this Act is to provide
 
14 additional funds to the judiciary to establish a dedicated
 
15 domestic violence court and related services for victims and
 
16 their families.
 
17      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
18 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much
 

 
Page 2                                         589         
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, to
 
 2 establish within the family court a dedicated domestic violence
 
 3 court, and $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for
 
 4 fiscal year 1999-2000, to provide related services for victims
 
 5 and their families.
 
 6      SECTION 3.  The sums appropriated shall be expended by the
 
 7 judiciary for the purposes of this Act.
 
 8      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
 9 
 
10                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________