STAND. COM. REP. NO. 57

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 518

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 518 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require licensees under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to complete a one-time, one-hour training program on intimate partner violence awareness and education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, American Association of University Women – Hawai‘i, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and Domestic Violence Action Center.

     Your Committee finds that intimate partner violence is prevalent in every community and affects people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality.  Professionals in the grooming and beauty industry may have a unique opportunity to notice signs of abuse in their clients.  These professionals often enjoy close relationships with their clients, which can put a grooming or beauty professional in the position to provide advice, resource information, and assistance.

     Your Committee further finds that requiring a one-time training program on intimate partner violence will enable more grooming and beauty industry licensees to recognize the signs of intimate partner violence and potentially direct their clients to much-needed resources.  Your Committee notes that requiring the training to be a three-hour course will allow more time for describing the dynamics of abuse and help licensees understand the barriers faced by survivors and the different resources available to survivors.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that licensees shall complete a one-time, three-hour training program on intimate partner violence awareness and education;

     (2)  Clarifying that individual barber, beauty operator (including cosmetologists, hairdressers, estheticians, and nail technicians), and instructor licensees under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology are required to attend the one-time training program; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 518, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 518, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair