Establishes funding for two additional attorney positions and two additional paralegal positions with the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline. Makes an appropriation.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that domestic violence is a serious and escalating problem that affects the health and well-being of Hawaii's families. Enabling victims and their children to gain access to intervention is critical in domestic violence situations.

The Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline (DVCLH) is a not-for-profit agency that provides intervention and direct legal services to victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, the incidences of domestic violence are growing. As a result, DVCLH has become overburdened and forced to put victims of domestic violence on a "wait-list" for intervention services.

DVCLH has not seen a measurable increase in funding to support agency staffing, expand program capacity, or strengthen infrastructure in nine years. Pay grades have been modified to achieve a competitive posture, but the current budget cannot accommodate adequate adjustments for staff compensation.

Sustainability, retention of skilled staff, and program services are an important focus for the agency at this time. DVCLH is the only organization with its dedicated focus, array of programs, and unique role in bringing peace to island families.

Over the last five years, staff have had telephone contact with more than 100,000 individuals, 7,000 safety plans have been completed, 8,000 risk assessments conducted, 53 public schools visited, 2,500 accompaniments made with survivors to relevant community agencies, and 2,305 complex legal cases opened.

The legislature further finds that the needs of survivors are more complex today than fifteen years ago. The number of court appearances required by the courts have increased. There are more agencies involved in the life of the families that DVCLH services. The cost of living has increased, education is more expensive, and retaliation by abusers is more serious. All of this impacts the lives of domestic violence victims.

The legislature further finds that the unique services offered and the nature of DVCLH work is like no other in the legal profession. The demands on extraordinarily committed but relatively young attorneys are unrelenting. The agency provides extensive training to ensure that its legal services are victim-centered and of the highest possible quality. Noticeably, and unfortunately, legal cases have become increasingly more complex, contentious and costly. The demand for services continues and remains extremely difficult to meet. The agency’s ability to compete with other employers to recruit, and more importantly retain, qualified attorneys and paralegals willing and able to provide the specialized services needed by survivors, has become crippled. The salaries paid to the agency’s legal staff are lower than any other public agency in the city & county of Honolulu and are frequently half of what is paid in the private sector.

The State’s budget surplus is an opportunity for an investment to be made in critical services that our community needs. Public support and community investment in an agency such as DVCLH is essential. Additional resources will reduce the burdens, raise the capacity, and enhance the overall success of DVCLH in Hawaii. Without additional resources, the costs to the State will continue to grow as the violence in families destroys lives and impacts the next generation.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for two additional attorney positions and two additional paralegal positions with the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for four additional legal positions with the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.