Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enhance the safety of children by requiring members of the clergy to report cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities, subject to an exemption for confidential clergy communications.

The Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Services, Christian Science Committee on Publication, Hawaii Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Catholic Conference, and two individuals testified in support of this bill. The Sex Abuse Treatment Center supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that this bill will subject members of the clergy to penalties under section 350-1.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for failing to report, or preventing others from reporting, cases of child abuse.

Your Committee has amended this bill by adding a savings clause.

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. 1859, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 2.