STAND. COM. REP. NO. 23

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 589
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 589 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DOMESTIC
     VIOLENCE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide a coordinated
approach to the issue of domestic abuse by appropriating funds to
the Family Court to establish a dedicated domestic violence court
and related domestic violence services.

     The Judiciary, Child and Family Services, Hawaii State
Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Domestic Violence
Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, and Catholic Charities of the
Diocese of Honolulu submitted testimony in support of this
measure.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in support
of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee believes that the advantage of having a
specialized domestic violence court focusing solely on domestic
violence-related cases is having a well-trained staff with the
expertise to deal with a myriad of domestic violence issues.
Additionally, it would promote consistency in handling
restraining and protective orders, convictions, and other
domestic violence services.


 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 23
                                 Page 2

 
     As written, this measure does not convey the planning and
operation of a model domestic violence court.  As such, your
Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Judiciary and
Hawaiian Affairs to consider the development of an infrastructure
for the domestic violence court to provide solutions and social
programs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 589 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Human Services
                                   and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair