77
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
CONVENING A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE DEFINITION OF "DATING
   RELATIONSHIP" AS IT RELATES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.



 1       WHEREAS, the quality and character of the State is shaped
 2   and maintained by a safe and nurturing home environment; and
 3   
 4       WHEREAS, the incidence of domestic violence threatens the
 5   safety of affected children and family members, and also
 6   undermines the strength and vitality of society; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, the State continues to express its lack of
 9   tolerance and aversion to domestic violence by strengthening
10   laws to foster the elimination of and punishment for violence
11   against family members; and
12   
13       WHEREAS, domestic violence is defined as violence in
14   intimate relationships, of which "dating relationships" are a
15   part; and
16   
17       WHEREAS, victims of domestic violence who do not live with
18   their partners are unable to obtain the same protection offered
19   to those who either live within the same households or are
20   related; and
21   
22       WHEREAS, members of Hawaii's law enforcement community have
23   stated that the definition of "dating relationship" is too
24   ambiguous and would be open to too many differing
25   interpretations to effectively prevent and deter further abuse;
26   and
27   
28       WHEREAS, at least twenty-one states and the District of
29   Columbia have civil and criminal penalties that protect persons
30   who are abused in "dating relationships"; now, therefore,
31   
32       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
33   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
34   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that a Task Force be convened
35   to examine the definition of "dating relationship" as it
36   relates to domestic violence; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force:
 2   
 3       (1)  Set parameters for the definition;
 4   
 5       (2)  Research other state statutes that use "dating
 6            relationship" in their civil and criminal codes; and
 7   
 8       (3)  Decide on a common definition of "dating relationship"
 9            to effectively prevent and deter further domestic
10            abuse;
11   
12   and
13   
14       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force include but not
15   be limited to the following participants:
16   
17       (1)  Domestic violence service providers;
18   
19       (2)  The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence;
20   
21       (3)  A representative from the Department of Public Safety;
22   
23       (4)  A representative from the Department of the Attorney
24            General;
25   
26       (5)  A representative from the county police departments;
27   
28       (6)  A representative from the county prosecuting attorney
29            offices;
30   
31       (7)  A representative from the Office of the Public
32            Defender;
33   
34       (8)  One representative each from the Family Court,
35            District Court, and Circuit Court;
36   
37       (9)  A representative from the Hawaii Paroling Authority;
38            and
39   
40      (10)  One representative representing persons on probation;
41   
42   and
43   
44       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force submit its
45   findings and recommendations to the Legislature including draft
46   legislation no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
47   the Regular Session of 2000; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 2   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General,
 3   the Executive Directors of the Hawaii State Coalition Against
 4   Domestic Violence, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of
 5   Women, the Director of Public Safety, the Public Defender, the
 6   Prosecuting Attorney of each county, the Chiefs of Police of
 7   each county, and the Administrative Director of the Courts.