STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2279

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2082
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No.
2082 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide additional funding to
the judiciary to establish a dedicated domestic violence court
and related services for victims and their families.

     Your Committee finds that in recent years, the judiciary has
been committed to maintaining domestic violence as one of its
priorities.  The judiciary has devoted resources and initiated
procedures which have resulted in improved court practices that
assist domestic violence victims and their families.  Although
the judiciary, especially the family courts, have been very
responsive to the problem of domestic violence, these activities
and services need to be sustained and enhanced.  Your Committee
further finds that victims would be greatly assisted by the
improved expeditious judicial handling of domestic violence cases
that a dedicated domestic violence court would provide.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Honolulu Police Department, the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse
and Legal Hotline, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, and Child and Family Service.  Testimony in opposition
to this measure was submitted by one individual.  The Judiciary
submitted testimony in support of the intent but voiced some
concerns.

 
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     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2082 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary,



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair

 
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