STAND. COM. REP. NO.  316

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 812

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 812 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that domestic violence victims have safe and secure homes following an incident of domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment by stalking.

 

     This bill allows victims of domestic violence to terminate their rental agreement without penalty after notifying the landlord in writing and attaching thereto a temporary restraining order or a written report prepared by a law enforcement officer.  Under this bill, the victims would be responsible for the payment of rent for a 30- day period following the notification.

 

     The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Action Center, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and an individual testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Association of Realtors offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the requirement that the victim is obligated to pay rent for 30 days following notification;

 

     (2)  Deleting provisions relating to the prorating of rent when a victim's premise is rented to another party during the 30-day period; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 812, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 812, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair