STAND. COM. REP. NO.  440

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 275

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 275 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to mandate certain family members to report child abuse and neglect to the Department of Human Services (DHS) or the police department, while making an exception for victims of domestic violence by the same perpetrator.

     DHS testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supports the intent of this measure.  The Domestic Violence Action Center provided comments.

Members of your Committee raised concerns regarding which family members are subject to this mandate.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 275 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair