STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1008

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 104

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 104 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIALIZED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT WITHIN THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES BRANCH OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the formation of a specialized Domestic Violence Unit within the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Domestic Violence Action Center, Papa Ola Lokahi, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai‘i, and six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that domestic violence is a key challenge facing many families in the Child Protective Services system.  Your Committee further finds that efforts have been made over the years to strengthen working relationships and improve training and interventions necessary to keep women and children safe.

     Your Committee has heard the concerns that a specialized Domestic Violence Unit in Child Welfare Services may not be the most appropriate means to address domestic violence issues in child welfare cases.  Your Committee understands that these issues involve agencies and entities that are beyond the authority and responsibility of the Department of Human Services.  According to testimony received by your Committee, these concerns may be better addressed through an independent third party working in cooperation with various state agencies.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the request that the Department of Human Services create a specialized Domestic Violence Unit within the Child Welfare Services Branch;

     (2)  Requesting the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to work in partnership with the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, and Judiciary to convene a working group to develop a Volunteer Domestic Violence Assessment and Case Management Unit;

     (3)  Requesting the Volunteer Domestic Violence Assessment and Case Management Unit to address and respond to cases where allegations or a history of domestic violence has been raised or identified;

     (4)  Deleting the requirement that the Department of Human Services report to the Legislature on the status of the Domestic Violence Unit;

     (5)  Requesting the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to submit a report to the Legislature on the status of the Volunteer Domestic Violence Assessment and Case Management Unit;

     (6)  Changing its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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 S.C.R. No. 104, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 104, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair