STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1100

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.C.R. No. 61

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 61 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FAMILY COURT JUDGES AND GUARDIANS AD LITEM TO BETTER RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose for this concurrent resolution is to request the Judiciary to establish a training program for Family Court judges and guardians ad litem to better comprehend domestic violence.

     An individual submitted testimony in support of this measure and the Judiciary testified in opposition.

     Your committee amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1) Changing the title to "Requesting the Judiciary to

continue to develop and implement a training program for Family Court judges and guardian ad litem to better recognize and understand domestic violence;" and

     (2) Deleting the third paragraph in page 2 which states

"Whereas, the Legislature is concerned that Family Court judges may not be correctly applying or enforcing section 571-46 (a) (9)-(14), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the detriment of domestic violence survivors and their children, and ultimately punishing survivors and their children for successfully escaping abusive homes."

     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. 61, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 61, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair