STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 810

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1419

S.D. 1

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1419, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the services to and support for sexual assault victims.

This measure changes the name of the domestic violence prevention special fund to the domestic violence and sexual assault special fund. In addition, this measure requires the Department of Health to work with:

(1) Providers of services to victims of domestic violence to develop and report to the 2006 Legislature on a five-year strategic plan to:

(A) Reduce the incidence of domestic violence; and

(B) Increase support to victims of domestic violence; and

(2) Sexual violence strategic planning groups to implement the recommendations of the January 2005 strategic plan, "Shaping Tomorrow, The Future of Sexual Violence Programs in Hawaii", and report to the 2006 Legislature on the progress of implementing the recommendations of the plan.

Your Committee finds that the domestic violence and sexual assault special fund will provide a revenue stream for prevention and education services that are essential to ending the abuse and violence that underlies many of society's ills and will help to focus funding and services on a target population. The required reports on the respective strategic plans for domestic violence and sexual assault will help the Legislature to ensure that progress is being made in these areas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1419, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair