STAND. COM. REP. NO.  325-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1906

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1906 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make temporary restraining orders for the abuse of a family or household member who is a minor or incapacitated person more accessible by:

     (1)  Removing the requirements that the family courts report to the Department of Human Services each time such a temporary restraining order is sought; and

     (2)  Relieving the Department of Human Services of the duty to investigate each such allegation and to submit a written report to the family courts in advance of the hearing on the temporary restraining order.

The Department of Human Services, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American Association of University Women in Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Judiciary opposed this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to promote further discussion.

     Should your Committee on Judiciary deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Human Services respectfully requests that it consider the concerns raised by Judge Mark Browning of the Judiciary and his suggested amendments.

     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. 1906, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1906, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair