STAND. COM. REP. NO. 967

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 Ways and Means, 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 create a task force to evaluate system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.

     Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from the Department of Education and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center of the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.  The Department of Human Services and the Children's Justice Centers of Hawaii (Judiciary) submitted comments on the bill.

     Your Committee finds that there is a need to develop a coordinated organized system that can appropriately respond to cases of child sexual assault, exploitation, and associated crimes or issues.

     Your Committee finds that convening a task force comprised of law enforcement and social service representatives from federal, state, and county agencies and private, charitable social agencies will assist in providing effective recommendations on system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means 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 Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair