Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2141 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to fully fund sexual assault services in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Attorney General, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and Child and Family Service.

Your Committees find that the rate of sexual assault crimes has continued to increase. Sexual assault services provide much needed support, advocacy, and counseling to victims and their families. When victims receive timely and proper counseling services they are more likely to report the crime. This improves the chances that the perpetrator will be identified and successfully prosecuted.

Your Committees amended this measure by including the appropriation amount of $1,076,217 to be expended by the Department of the Attorney General.

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. 2141, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2141, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.