Bill Text: HI HB873 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Domestic Abuse; Child Witness; Reporting; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB873 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB873-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  138

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 873

      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. 873 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to add a new part to chapter 587, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Child Protective Act, to:

 

     (1)  Require a law enforcement office to notify the                 Department of Human Services (DHS) whenever                         substantial evidence exists that a child witnessed a               domestic violence incident; and

 

     (2)  Require DHS to collaborate with relevant agencies and              organizations to develop protocols for this procedure.

 

     Several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  DHS and Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that as economic difficulties increase, so too do incidents of domestic violence.  In such cases, it is often imperative that victims obtain a temporary restraining order, particularly in cases involving a child witness.  It is with this in mind that your Committee has chosen to add an appropriation to assist victims of domestic violence in obtaining temporary restraining orders.

 

     Your Committee notes for reference purposes that Hawaii Family Law Clinic dba Ala Kuola, is an example of an agency DHS may collaborate with to assist victims of domestic violence to obtain temporary restraining orders.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Adding an appropriation;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to             encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

 

     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. 873, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 873, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

		____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair