Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 735 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health (DOH) for sexual assault services.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, YWCA of Hawaii Island, Hawaii Coalition Against Sexual Abuse, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Community Alliance on Prisons, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this bill. DOH submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill.

Your Committees find that current funding for sexual assault services in Hawaii is inadequate, as the cost of delivering services and the demand for services have both increased substantially in recent years. Moneys to assist victims of sexual assault will not only help to provide treatment for victims, but will also help to encourage victims of this underreported crime to seek medical and legal assistance.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 735, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 735, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.