STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1393

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 16

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.C.R. No. 16 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COMMITTEES ON HUMAN SERVICES AND THE COMMITTEES ON JUDICIARY OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO RECONVENE THE SCR 52 TASK FORCE TO FURTHER STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE SCR 52 TASK FORCE COMMITTEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to further study the outstanding recommendations of the four committees that were formed by the SCR 52 Task Force relating to Family Court Models, Family Court Sunshine and Accountability, Temporary Restraining Orders, and the Best Interests of the Child.

     The National Association of Social Workers, Volunteer Legal Services Hawai‘i, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  VOICES submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the four committees formed by the SCR 52 Task Force had productive discussions and made good recommendations regarding how to make the Family Court more accessible to the public and responsive to the needs of participants.  However, given the scope and complexity of the committees' endeavors, more time and participation is necessary to properly explore unresolved issues and outstanding committee recommendations.  This measure will enable the SCR 52 Task Force to build on the research and results that it accomplished so far.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 16 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair