Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1116 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of the bill is to exempt persons who are victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault from certain court filing fees and costs.

The Department of the Attorney General testified in support of this bill. The Judiciary supported the intent of the bill and provided comments. The Office of the Public Defender raised concerns and provided comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that that the State will be in compliance with the federal Violence Against Women Act by exempting persons subjected to abuse by a household member, stalking, or sexual assault from certain court filing fees and court costs.

Your Committee has amended the bill by replacing the term "victim" with a neutral term and defining "protective order."

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 H.B. No. 1116, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1116, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.