Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1455, S.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expand the statutory framework of the Children's Advocacy Program (Program) to more accurately reflect its intended mission and activities.

The Judiciary and the Department of Human Services testified in support of this bill. The Office of Information Practices commented on this measure.

Your Committees find that this bill will conform the Program's legal mandate to activities related to child witnesses beyond victims of sex abuse. This is consistent with the activities of similar programs throughout the country and reflects the evolution of the Program over the past twelve years. This bill will also extend the benefit of the Program's facilities to children who are victims or witnesses in other types of cases, such as serious physical abuse, domestic violence, and homicide--a use that has been requested by law enforcement, protective services, and the courts.

The statutory changes proposed in this bill recognize the Program's role in effectuating systemic reforms on case coordination, training, and the development of interagency cooperation in child abuse cases, as reflected in protocols that have been developed since the initial enactment of the statute.

Your Committee made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and to conform to standard drafting style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1455, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1455, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.