STAND. COM. REP. NO.  320

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 456

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, 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, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, and the Domestic Violence Action Center supported this measure.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General offered comments.

     Your Committee acknowledges the concerns of the Department of the Attorney General regarding the Hawaii State Constitution's delegation of self-governance authority to the counties.  However, your Committee finds that the issue of officer-involved domestic violence is a matter of statewide concern and recommends that this measure proceed through the legislative process to facilitate further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 456 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair