Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1860 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow taxpayers to designate $5 from their state income tax refund to the Hawaii Children's Trust Fund(HCTF), Domestic Violence Prevention Special Fund, and the Spouse and Child Abuse Special Accounts under the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Judiciary, respectively

.

HCTF, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Good Beginnings Alliance, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawaii Coalition for Dads, Molokai Family Support Center, National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter, Blueprint for Change, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure. The Department of Taxation opposed this measure. The Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline and Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committee recognizes that domestic violence is a major concern in Hawaii. Children are often direct victims of abuse, or suffer trauma from witnessing violence upon others. HCTF is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect in Hawaii.

Statistics show that the national average of abuse for children under the age of one is 9.4 percent, and Hawaii's average is 14.3 percent. Your Committee believes that this cause is worthy of an income tax return check-off to allow taxpayers to donate funds to prevent child abuse and neglect.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1860 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.