STAND. COM. REP. NO. 88-12
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2012
RE: H.B. No. 2350
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Sixth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2012
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2350 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HONOLULU FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu that states that oftentimes domestic violence victims simply give up and remain with their batterers because obtaining services is just too confusing or difficult. The Family Justice Center model addresses this major obstacle by providing integrated, co-located services from one location in an environment that is safe and nurturing.
Your Committee notes that the Family Justice Center movement is the product of the battered women's movement in the United States. It is the result of more than twenty years of efforts by domestic violence intervention professionals to mainstream aggressive intervention strategies into the civil and criminal justice systems. Communities have identified the benefits of bringing together advocates, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and other intervention service-provider professionals to work together in serving victims of domestic violence and holding offenders accountable. Currently, there are over sixty Family Justice Centers established across the United States and several centers are operating overseas. The Family Justice Center model has been identified as a "best practice" in delivering services to victims of domestic abuse, sex assault, and elder abuse.
Your Committee finds that beginning in May 2010, through a federal grant awarded to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, a series of strategic planning meetings were held in Honolulu attended by key stakeholders to discuss the establishment of a Honolulu Family Justice Center. The Honolulu Family Justice Center has the full support of the county administration and key stakeholders. Most importantly, the survivors in Honolulu have voiced their strong, unanimous approval for the Honolulu Family Justice Center.
Your Committee also finds that some agencies have expressed uncertainty about the potential of the Honolulu Family Justice Center to require them to change their operating procedures and the potential for competition for funding among existing service providers. An open dialogue to address these concerns will be undertaken as well as a discussion of the commitment of all partner agencies to look for ways to effectively and efficiently address the needs of victims with scarce resources.
Your Committee finds that the Honolulu Family Justice Center integrates existing resources and leverages other funding sources to support the Center, and the Legislature is not expected to cover the entire cost of the Center. Substantial cost savings will be realized through use of highly-trained volunteers and interns at the Center. Donations from business leaders and organizations will be sought and fundraising activities will be initiated to cover some of the costs of planning and operating the Center.
Your Committee finds that there is a total of $876,512 awarded in federal grants for start-up costs for the Honolulu Family Justice Center. Of that amount, a total of $165,425 has been expended as of January 31, 2012, leaving a balance of $711,087 that is earmarked for salaries and fringe benefits for two staff positions for the Honolulu Family Justice Center, the Director's position and an Administrative Specialist I position.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Allowing private donations to be accepted to fund the Honolulu Family Justice Center;
(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.
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. 2350, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2350, 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 |
|
|
|
|