STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1496

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 37

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 37 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING RELIGIOUS AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE AS SAFE HAVENS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request religious and faith-based organizations to serve as safe havens for victims of domestic violence.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Catholic Conference.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that victims of domestic violence often turn to their religious community for assistance, counseling, and referral services.  The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a private, not-for-profit statewide organization which coordinates domestic violence prevention and intervention services.  Religious and faith-based organizations need to develop consistent and appropriate methods of addressing the prevention of domestic violence and providing "safe havens" for those trying to escape abusive relationships.  In developing these methods, safety and the strengthening of families should be a priority.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by expanding the purpose of the measure to include a working group of specified, interested stakeholders to develop appropriate ways to respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence, including providing safe havens. 

     Specifically, your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Amending the title of the concurrent resolution to reflect the expansion of the purpose of the measure;

     (2)  Including additional explanation paragraphs;

     (3)  Specifying interested stakeholders including religious and faith-based organizations for the working group; and

     (4)  Identifying additional stakeholders for the transmission of copies of the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 37, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 37, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair