Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1512 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Director of Health to establish domestic violence fatality review teams to review domestic violence fatalities.

The Department of Health, the Attorney General, the Judiciary, the Maui Prosecuting Attorney, the Hawaii Prosecuting Attorney, the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and one individual submitted written testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committees find that a domestic violence fatality review process will bring stakeholders together in an organized manner to address the circumstances and issues surrounding a domestic violence death in a confidential manner. As the Department of Health noted, information gained will ultimately assist in reducing those deaths that are preventable as well as build the capacity of the State to more effectively address the issues of domestic violence.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1512 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.