STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1489

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 246

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 246, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A POLICY AGAINST TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND ABUSE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services to establish a task force to develop a policy against teen dating violence and abuse.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and two individuals.  Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that patterns of dating violence behavior often start early and carry through into adult relationships.  Additionally, violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications for victims; many will continue to be abused in their adult relationships and are at a higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, and suicide.  A comparison of Intimate Partner Violence rates between adolescents and adults reveals that adolescents are at a higher risk of intimate partner abuse.  Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.  A majority of parents admit that they have not spoken to their child about dating violence.  This measure will ensure that a model policy is adopted regarding teen dating violence and provide needed assistance to the Board of Education.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 246, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 246, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing,

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair