STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2067

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2310

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2310 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VICTIMS' RIGHTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to give immediate notice of escape of a prisoner who is a domestic violence offender to each victim of the domestic violence and individuals protected by a restraining order against the escapee.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Domestic Violence Action Center, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.

     Your Committees find that an escaped prisoner may return to the residence of one or more victims.  If a domestic violence victim or an individual protected by a restraining order is able to receive notice of the escape, it will assist the individual in seeking safety.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language requiring the Department of Public Safety to work with county victim assistance offices to give notice to victims; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2310, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2310, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Human Services,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair