STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2645

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2443
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2443 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the reporting of
child abuse or neglect by professionals and officials to either
the police or the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Human Services (DHS), Honolulu Prosecuting
Attorney, Honolulu Police Department, Sex Abuse Treatment Center,
and two private individuals.

     The intent of this measure is to facilitate and expedite the
furnishing of services by the (DHS) for child abuse and neglect
cases.  Current law provides for reporting both to the police
department and the DHS.  This puts a burden on the reporter and
could discourage reporting of child abuse.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2443 and recommends that it pass
Third Reading.


 
a                                                     SB2443     
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2645
                                   Page 2


                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
a                                                     SB2443