Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 804 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make appropriations for domestic violence services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, Women Helping Women, and a private citizen.

This measure makes an appropriation to the Judiciary for a pilot dedicated domestic violence court and for related domestic violence services for victims and their families. This measure also requires the Judiciary to report to the legislature on statistics about domestic violence cases and justification for continuing the program.

Your Committee finds that domestic violence continues to be the greatest threat to the safety and welfare of families in our community. The Judiciary is indispensable to the administration of an effective domestic violence system. Testimony of the Judiciary indicates that it has administratively organized the court system to accommodate a special court to handle domestic violence cases. This measure appropriates additional funds for that purpose.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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. 804, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 804, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.