STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3778

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2425

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Amend the definition of "domestic abuse" under Hawaii's insurance laws for purposes of prohibiting insurers from discriminating against victims of domestic violence;

 

     (2)  Amend laws relating to domestic abuse protective orders to include coercive control between family or household members; and

 

     (3)  Define "coercive control".

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from AAUW of Hawaii, Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii Psychological Association, and eight individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that under existing law, many survivors of domestic abuse are not adequately protected from the harassment, control, and abuse that they have endured, particularly if the abuse does not leave a physical mark.  Your Committees further find that there are various coercive and manipulating tactics that can be used to harass or control domestic partners, and many victims in Hawaii are abused without physical proof, which can limit their access to protective orders because the abuse may not meet the current statutory definition.  This measure amends the State's legal definition of "domestic abuse" to include "coercive control", and defines "coercive control", to empower victims of non-physical domestic violence to pursue legal protections from their abusers and ensure insurers do not discriminate against victims of domestic violence when issuing insurance policies.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair