STAND. COM. REP. NO. 388

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1209

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1209 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate moneys for emergency domestic violence shelters.

     The Formerly Battered Women's Caucus of Hawai‘i; the Hawaii Family Forum; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Parents and Children Together; Child & Family Service; Turning Point for Families, Inc.; Hale Lokomaika‘i Women Helping Women; Blueprint for Change; Hale Ho‘omalu; Na Loio; and fifteen individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the State needs to continue to fund emergency domestic violence shelters in order to provide safe havens for women and their children made homeless due to domestic violence.  The State began funding emergency domestic violence shelters statewide in 2004.  The state funds awarded to each of the service areas has remained fixed since 2004, even though the cost of conducting business has increased severely.  Each of the eight shelters has paid the increased expenses with the 2004 funds and as a result, the shelters are experiencing financial difficulties statewide.

     In addition, consumer needs have increased and impacted service delivery.  Families and individuals entering shelter placement are affected by issues such as substance use and addiction, mental health, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, loss of income, lack of employable skills, lack of parenting skills, and lack of medical and dental care.  Domestic violence advocates must be thoroughly trained to meet the varying needs of the consumer base so that a consumer may move from shelter placement to a non-abusive living environment.

     This measure will appropriate moneys for emergency domestic violence shelters to continue to serve the needs of families and individuals impacted by domestic violence statewide.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1209 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair