STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2438

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2067
                                        




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.
2067 entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AWARDING CUSTODY AND
     VISITATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Family Court to
include in its written order the reasons for awarding custody of
children to a person against whom there is evidence of family
violence.

     Testimony in support of this bill was received from the
Honolulu Police Department and a concerned citizen.  The
Judiciary submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that although this measure will
increase the workload of the Judiciary, it will promote clarity
and consistency of thought among judges.  The measure will
furthermore help to free the police from refereeing custody
battles and allow them to return to their normal duties.

     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.

 
a                                                          SB2067
 
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2438
                                   Page 2


2067 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on
the calendar for Third Reading.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair

 
a                                                          SB2067