STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1390

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 9

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 9 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE FAMILY COURT'S HANDLING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MATTERS IN THE FIRST CIRCUIT FAMILY COURT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of the Auditor to assess the Family Court's handling of domestic violence matters in the First Circuit Family Court.

     Oahu Voices and five individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Judiciary submitted comments.

     According to the Judiciary, a system presently exists, pursuant to chapter 586, Hawaii Revised Statutes, whereby petitions for domestic abuse protective orders are heard on a separate docket.  However, during the course of interim hearings convened by the Committees on Human Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, it was recommended that an analysis be conducted of Hawaii's current procedures for addressing child custody matters involving domestic violence to determine whether Hawaii's state court system is following best practices in that area.  This measure will help determine, among other things, whether the establishment of a separate domestic violence court would better serve the needs of the community.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 9 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair