STAND. COM. REP. NO. 390

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1779

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. 1779 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a two-year statewide task force to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the State's system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation, and appropriates funds for the task force.

     The Department of Human Services, the City and County of Honolulu Police Department, and Friends of the Children's Justice Center on Maui submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Judiciary submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that there is a need to develop a coordinated, organized system in our State that can appropriately respond to cases of child sexual abuse, assault, and exploitation; sexually reactive children; youth who sexually offend; and related minor-to-minor incest.  The creation of a statewide task force will enable the various agencies to work together and hopefully achieve consensus on how to best develop a coordinated response.

     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. 1779 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,

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair