STAND. COM. REP. NO.  747

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 456

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 456 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide a safe mechanism for reporting citizen complaints regarding officer-involved domestic violence by ensuring that reports to the police commission of allegations of officer-involved abuse against a family or household member do not have to be in writing or be a sworn statement.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, and two concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to March 15, 2039, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 456, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 456, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair