STAND. COM. REP. NO.  417-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.R. No. 11

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.R. No. 11 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE PERPETRATED BY WOMEN AGAINST MEN IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the Department of Human Services (DHS) to investigate the domestic abuse endured by men and initiated by women in Hawaii.

     Your Committee recognizes that the most commonly recognized facts about domestic abuse focus on women being preyed upon by men.  Though, there is an often ignored side of domestic abuse – those perpetrated by women against men.  But, because this side of the domestic abuse issue is widely unacknowledged, most domestic abuse-related concerns address only male violence.  However, according to various studies, approximately 835,000 men are battered each year.  This, in and of itself, is reason enough to believe that cases involving female domestic violence may exist here in the State.  Therefore, it would be prudent to investigate further.

     Concerned individuals expressed their testimonies in opposition to this resolution.

     The Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC) submitted comments.

     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.R. No. 11 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair