Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1419 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change the name of the Domestic Violence Prevention Special Fund to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Special Fund and to specify by statute the percentage of funds to go to domestic violence prevention and treatment and sexual assault prevention and treatment.

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the Domestic Violence Prevention Special Fund was established as a revenue stream to provide prevention and education services that are key to ending violence.

However, as one proponent noted, since the inception of the fund, the guidelines and procedures to access the special account have not been clearly defined. This measure clarifies the target population to be served through the account in accordance with the original intent of the fund.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting the percentage allocation of the moneys in the special fund between domestic violence prevention and treatment and sexual assault prevention and treatment because it would be problematic to distinguish between some programs. Your Committees have also amended this measure by specifying that the department work with domestic violence service providers to develop a strategic plan focus on domestic violence and requiring the Department of Health to provide the legislature with a detailed report on how the plan is being implemented.

Your Committees have further amended this measure by requiring the Department of Health to work with the sexual assault strategic planning groups to implement the recommendations of the January 2005 strategic plan entitled, "Shaping Tomorrow, The Future of Sexual Violence Programs in Hawaii" that was presented by the Sexual Violence Strategic Planning Group, and to report implementation progress to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2006 regular session.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1419, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1419, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.