STAND. COM. REP. NO. 80-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2601

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2601 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enhance the protections afforded to children in domestic violence. Among other things, this measure:

(1) Requires the Judiciary and Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop a program to cross-train social workers, guardians ad litem, police officers, law enforcement authorities, and others involved in child protection by providing them with information about:


(A) Domestic abuse;

(B) The effects of domestic abuse on children; and

(C) The resources available in the community to assist victims of domestic abuse;

(2) Provides for the co-location of domestic abuse services of the Judiciary and DHS;

(3) Provides a mechanism for funding various domestic abuse assistance pilot programs;

(4) Affords children of domestic abuse counseling and psychological services;

(5) Establishes certification standards for domestic abuse intervention programs;

(6) Gives a social worker the authority to order a perpetrator of domestic abuse from the premises at which the alleged domestic abuse took place; and

(7) Establishes the Hawaii Domestic Violence Task Force to review the issue of domestic violence in Hawaii and to submit a report and make any recommendations to the Legislature on an annual basis.

The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the intent of this measure. The DHS, Judiciary, and Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline commented on this measure.

Domestic violence is a serious matter that not only affects the immediate family unit but society as a whole. Your Committee finds that this is especially true as it relates to children who witness domestic violence, which oftentimes becomes a horrifying and dangerous incident that impacts the child for years, if not a lifetime. Domestic violence is a problem that presents many complex challenges and your Committee notes that this measure is a first step in dealing with this important matter.

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. 2601 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

____________________________

MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair