STAND. COM. REP. NO.  62-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 1884

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1884 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to more effectively assist victims of domestic violence by establishing a Domestic Violence Task Force (Task Force) in the Department of Human Services (DHS) to facilitate policy discussions that address domestic violence issues.

     A concerned individual supported this bill.  DHS, the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Domestic Violence Action Center opposed this measure.  The Office of Information Practices and a concerned individual provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing the provision that establishes the Task Force within DHS;

     (2)  Establishing the Task Force within the Legislature;

     (3)  Amending the composition of the Task Force by:

          (A)  Removing the Director of Human Services, Director of Health, Superintendent of Education, and representative of the family court;

          (B)  Removing three representatives of organizations with experience in domestic violence issues;

          (C)  Including two members of the House of Representatives, one to serve as a co-chair;

          (D)  Including two members of the Senate, one to serve as a co-chair;

          (E)  Including two members who are domestic violence victim advocates, one of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one of whom will be appointed by the Senate President; and

          (F)  Including four representatives of organizations that provide services to victims of domestic violence, two of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two of whom will be appointed by the Senate President;

     (4)  Extending the term of the Task Force to June 30, 2012; and

     (5)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 1884, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1884, H.D. 1, 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