Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1017 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require members of the clergy to report cases of child abuse, except information received from confidential communications, to the police or the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the DHS, Honolulu Police Department, Christian Science Committee on Publications, Catholic Charities, and The Sex Abuse Treatment Center.

Your Committee finds that, in the interests of protecting children from abuse, the clergy should have the same obligations to report incidences of child abuse to the proper authorities that other professionals who work with children do. The desire of your Committee is to identify cases of child abuse or neglect at its earliest stages. Your Committee views this measure as a detection device rather than an invasion of privacy or privileges. Your Committee notes that there is an exception for confidential communications.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1017 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.